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BOB CARLTON. AMERICAN 


BOB CARLTON, 

AMERICAN 

BY 

HERBERT GREYSON I^AING 

With Illustrations by 
R. I. CONKLIN 



THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING COMPANY 
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 


CopyriE-ht, 1910 
By 

THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. 
Boston, Massachusetts 

All Rights Reserved. 



CCi.A2807l7 


CONTENTS 


Chapteb Page 

I. The Substitute 1 

II. The Valley of the Shadow 14 

III. The Parting of the Ways 30 

IV. A Good Samaritan 45 

V. His First Case 70 

VI. A Change of Scene 88 

VII. Behind a Mask 101 

VIII. Robert in a New R61e Ill 

IX. A Knock-down Argument 118 

X. Saved by Strategy 136 

XI. The Nurse 158 

XII. A Murder 178 

XIII. A Strange Reunion 188 

XIV. On the Trail 206 

XV. Beauty and the Beast 218 

XVI. Backward Trail 241 

XVIT. An Exchange of Prisoners 250 

XVIII. The Trail 26'8 

XIX. The Darkest Hour 284 

XX. An Unexpected Outcome 306 

XXI. Love Assayed 330 

XXII. Playing a New Game 357 

XXIII. Paid in Pull 390 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


Bob Carleton, American Frontispiece*^ 

Page 

“Didn’t I tell you to let her alone?” 34 

His big right fist landed on the pugilist’s jaw 134 

“Is this the road to Meeker?” 218 

“I hope every dollar ye’ve got will draw as big interest 

fer ye as that old board-bill did fer me.” 296 

354 


“Aleen!” 


i 


I 

* 


t 


( 




Bob Carlton, American 

CHAPTER I 

THE SUBSTITUTE 

The schoolhouse at Ashland was of the type 
common to rural communities in the middle 
west. Here the farmer’s aspiration to give 
his children an education is not complicated by 
any other motive than to shelter them during 
recitation hours. If any, weakness in the way 
of artistic embellishment had suggested itself 
it would not have survived the unequal contest 
with the thrifty taxpayer. 

The building had once been painted, but this 
extravagance was never repeated, and wind 
and weather had transformed the one time 
white surface into a scaly monochrome in dirty 
gray. 

The neglected roof had taken its revenge on 
the plastering, which was clouded by patches 
here and there whose differing ages might have 
been estimated by their various shades. More 


2 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


recent breaks bad not been repaired, and 
through them peeped sections of lath. 

An occasional mouse was tempted from its 
obscurity under the floor by morsels from the 
lunch-baskets, but its presence was the signal 
for a startled scream and a suppressed titter 
which sent it scampering through the all-too- 
numerous exits provided by the yawning cracks 
of floor and base-board. 

Most of the walls between the windows were 
occupied by blackboards, made by painting the 
plaster with a mixture which a shrewd supply 
agent had unloaded on a bargain-hunting school 
board. Chalk did not make much impression 
on its surface until an attempt was made to 
rub it out. Friction seemed to act on it in the 
same way that heat does on invisible ink, so 
that yesterday’s problems were always more 
distinct than today’s figures. 

On one of the back seats of the school- 
room sat Robert Carlton. He was possessed 
of a rugged frame which Dame Nature had 
given him as his sole compensation for a life of 
bard work on a farm. His face was of the sun- 
burned type of his associates and he would 
scarcely have been selected from his school- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


3 


mates by a casual observer as the possible hero 
of a story. The expert analyst would have 
read strength in his thick brown hair, endur- 
ance in his broad shoulders and courage and 
unswerving loyalty in his clear, gray eyes. But 
to his neighbors he was Dave Carlton’s boy, a 
good son and a hard worker. 

By the laws of heredity Robert had nothing 
to expect but adversity. Poverty had been 
entailed in the Carlton family for generations. 
His father and his father’s father accepted it 
as uncomplainingly as they did the snows of 
winter. And Robert might have fallen into the 
same rut but for an influence which early came 
into his life — an influence which began its work 
in the world the day after the eviction from the 
Garden of Eden, and has been working ever 
since to energize fallen man — the influence of a 
good woman. 

Aleen Hilliard would have caught your eye 
much more quickly than Robert. She was 
slender and graceful, and even in repose her 
attitude suggested the vigor and initiative 
which make the American girl the envy and 
despair of all rivals. Her abundant hair, 
which she affected to deplore, but which in her 


4 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


secret heart she treasured, seemed to catch and 
intensify the sunlight which glanced across it. 
It speaks volumes for Eobert’s self-control; 
that with this laughing, teasing, inviting dis- 
traction in front of him he was still able to 
make a creditable showing in his studies. 

Schoolmaster Graham announced the noon, 
hour and there was a rush for the corner where 
stood the dinner-pails. Part of a teacher’s 
compensation in those days was collected by 
him in rotation from the dining-tables of the 
taxpayers. Mr. Graham betook himself to the 
farm-house of his host for the present month. 
While he was away the pent-up animal spirits 
of his charges found full vent. A picket warned 
the young folks of his return and when he 
entered the room nothing louder than the buzz 
of decorous conversation was to be heard. Mr. 
Graham may not have reached the hearts of 
his pupils, but he inspired them with consid- 
erable fear because of his adherence to the old 
theory of corporal punishment as a deterrent 
from mischief and an incentive to study. 

On arriving at the schoolhouse he stepped to 
the door to ring the bell. Eobert was showing 
Aleen how to work a problem at the blackboard. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


5 


A boy came in chewing a mouthful of spruce- 
gum. Fearing it would be discovered if he took 
it to his desk, he stuck it under the ledge, at the 
bottom of the blackboard. Aleen, without esti- 
mating consequences, removed it from its 
hiding-place and hurriedly flattened it on Mr. 
Graham’s chair. That was the first link in a 
chain of circumstances that dragged these 
young people half-way across the United States 
and back again. 

“Please don’t tell,” she cautioned Eobert, 
the only witness of the act. 

He nodded a promise. 

Mr. Graham opened the afternoon session, 
looking more gloomy than ever. His charac- 
teristic expression was a frown which some- 
times melted into a scowl, but never into a 
kindlier manifestation. The foundations of 
dyspepsia had been laid while “batching” at 
college, and his digestive organs were illy pre- 
pared for the ordeal of “boarding around.” 

The more observant pupils noted this sign of 
squally weather and Aleen would have given 
worlds if the spruce-gum had been in some less 
exposed situation. 

After spreading as much gloom over the room 


6 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


as his look would convey the schoolmaster took 
his seat. 

Aleen, divided between joy and fear, held a 
book in front of her face. Robert bit his lip to 
keep in the laughter, but disdained to seek 
cover. Both awaited anxiously the next move 
on the part of the enemy. Which would tri- 
mnph, cohesion or adhesion? Would the clothes 
give way, or the gum? Aleen ’s laughter was 
becoming uncontrollable. Robert saw that she 
would soon attract the teacher’s attention and 
he purposely emitted a snicker. 

The ruse was successful and drew the 
enemy’s fire at once. He arose to learn the 
cause of the disturbance — and learned it. The 
chair came up with him. He promptly returned 
to a sitting posture and proceeded to recon- 
noitre. By this time every scholar knew that 
something had happened and that it was a fore- 
runner of numerous other events which would 
culminate in that happiest climax in a country 
school to all but the immediate victim — a 
trouncing. 

The teacher executed a flank movement with 
as much dignity as he could master and slid 
loose from the chair. The uniform of his pro- 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 7 

fession, a frock coat, concealed the extent of 
the damage to his raiment, but he finished his 
duties in a standing position. 

There was a murmur of suppressed laughter, 
and Mr. Graham turned white with rage. His 
look stilled the room into silence. His hands 
were clenched and when he opened and shut 
them dents showed in the palms. 

In a voice trembling with anger he called: 

“Carlton, come here!” 

Eobert obeyed. As he passed Aleen’s desk 
her look of dumb terror clinched his resolve to 
save her at all costs. Besides, had he not given 
his word? 

“Carlton, did you put this — this substance on 
my chair?” 

“I did not, sir.” 

“Do you know who did it?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Name the culprit.” 

“I am sorry, Mr. Graham., but I cannot.” 

“You mean you won’t, eh? Well, you will, 
or I will flog you until you do.” 

His anger was greater at Eobert ’s refusal 
than if he had been the real offender. He took 
from his desk a raw-hide five feet long, a 


8 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


weapon seldom used because its mere appear- 
ance acted as a preventive in most cases. 

“Take oil your coat.” 

Robert deliberately did as be was told and 
stood more than a match in physical strength 
before his judge and executioner. 

“Once more, will you tell?” 

“I cannot, sir.” 

The pent-up rage of the teacher broke over 
all bounds, and like a tiger who has tasted 
blood, his fury increased as Robert’s shirt was 
cut open and great welts appeared across his 
shoulders. There was no laughter now. Mr. 
Graham, pausing for breath, was awed by the 
silence broken by an occasional stifled sob. 

“Now will you tell?” he roared. 

“No,” said Robert, who though suffering 
acute physical torture, was strengthened by the 
knowledge that he was saving Aleen from pun- 
ishment. Baffled and exhausted, the teacher 
threw down the whip, and seeing that neither 
he nor the scholars were in a mood for teaching 
or study, dismissed the school. 

Aleen gave Robert a look of gratitude as he 
passed down the aisle, which made him forget 
all of his troubles. She had been on the point 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


9 


of cr3dng out, “Mr. Graham, I did it,’' a half 
dozen times, but so paradoxical is woman nature 
that her grief at his suffering was more than 
offset by her joy in the knowledge that he suf- 
fered for her. 

As he was putting the strap around his books 
she slipped him a note which read: 

“Dear old Boh: 

“I am awfully sorry he whipped you, but it 
was glorious of you not to tell.” 

After the perusal of that missive he felt that 
he had been overpaid. He wrapped the note 
around a lock of her hair which he had cut off 
some days before. This packet he kept through 
many dark, troublous years. 

Aleen’s acceptance of Robert’s sacrifice 
should not be attributed to selfishness altogeth- 
er. The situation was a novel one and had been 
thrust upon her without warning. She was a 
girl whose whole life had been shielded from 
everything unpleasant. Ijoving hands had re- 
moved every obstacle from her life-path and 
planted its borders with flowers. She was the 
only child of John Hilliard, one of the wealthi- 


10 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


est men in Will county. He was born in Eng- 
land and had brought a large patrimony to this 
country where he increased it by far-seeing in- 
vestments. He chose the life of a country gen- 
tleman in preference to the struggle and tur- 
moil of the city, and also had some old country 
ideas about the beneficial effects of a rural 
environment for his daughter. Oh, fatuous 
father! You may find points in space where 
the multiplication-table is not true, or where the 
shortest distance between two points is not a 
straight line, but do not hope ever to plant your 
vine and fig-tree outside cupid’s realm. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard had an ingrained 
belief in the righteousness of class distinction, 
and they had so far become Americanized as to 
imagine that the yellow of gold, combined with 
good, red blood, would produce a fine shade of 
blue. 

Robert’s father was one of their tenants, 
working his little fifty-acre tract on shares. 
Robert himself was often called in at harvest- 
time to assist the Hilliards, and was regarded 
as different from the “hired men” about the 
place in degree, but not in kind. 

When thinking of Aleen’s future their gaze 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


11 


was fixed on the mountain tops, consequently 
they can be pardoned for not seeing what was 
going on under their noses. When they heard 
of any little escapades in which Eobert and 
Aleen were involved it made no impression on 
them. How prone we are to forget that men 
and women were made and lived and formed 
foolish habits, such as loving each other for 
ages before class distinctions were thought of. 

The farm tenanted by the Carltons joined 
the Hilliard estate on the east. Aleen was 
obliged to pass the Carlton cottage on her way 
to school. So for years, during school terms, 
she and Eobert had gone to and fro together 
without any objection on the part of her 
parents. But she had now arrived at an age 
when old associations must be broken and ar- 
rangements were made to send her to a board- 
ing-school for young ladies situated in a north- 
ern suburb of Chicago. Parents in such cases 
invariably forget or ignore all of their own 
youthful experiences, and Aleen ’s father and 
mother were no exception. They sought to 
make her forget Eobert by immuring her in a 
school where she had no male associates and 
thereby left no grazing ground for love but in 


12 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


the past. Their opposition only increased 
Robert’s determination to make himself worthy 
of her. 

These two had been attending school together 
for eight years in the old schoolhouse. And 
from the first their natures had blended. Both 
had stubborn wills, combined with a keen sense 
of right. As they grew older Robert yielded 
more and more to Aleen’s caprices and this 
drew them closer together. In games or spell- 
ing contests she chose Robert because of his 
ability and he chose Aleen because he wanted 
her, and would rather lose with her than win 
against her. She, little minx, was fully con- 
scious of her power. They were always in the 
same classes, but she never let her studies in- 
terfere with her pleasures and in consequence 
she never stood so high as he. She knew that 
she could always call on him for assistance in 
class or out, and she never hesitated to exercise 
her prerogative. Thus from babyhood, they 
formed habits which determined their whole 
lives. K they were caught whispering, Robert 
assumed the blame, and he would have gladly 
out-Raleighed Raleigh by remaining in his cloak 
and permitting his queen to walk over it if it 
would have made her path easier. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


13 


His father, David Carlton, had gone to the 
war at twenty, leaving his sweetheart behind 
him. This he had done in defiance of Quaker 
training and as a substitute for a neighbor who 
had a wife and small children dependent on him. 
He had come home with an empty sleeve and 
married his sweetheart, and their boy was con- 
stantly animated to a spirit of self-sacrifice by 
the sight of his maimed parent. Hence Eobert 
found it natural to obliterate himself in the ser- 
vice of another, especially when that other was 
Aleen. 


14 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER II 

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW 

For two years Robert continued to work and 
study at borne. He was developing physically 
and mentally and building in the obscurity of 
bis father’s little farm a character which was 
of iron if assailed by temptation, but of velvet 
if appealed to by helplessness or need. Aleen 
was still at her finishing school, and while the 
unfair sex was not as rigorously excluded as 
the catalog represented, still none of her new 
acquaintances measured up to Robert’s stand- 
ard in her eyes. She frequently wrote notes 
making appointments with him, and thanks to 
the cobweb of intra-mural trolleys, combined 
with their love of horseback riding, they met 
more often than either her teachers or parents 
would have thought possible It was Robert’s 
only deviation from the path of strict truthful- 
ness, and his regret over each yielding was 
equalled only by his desire for the next rendez- 
vous. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEBICAN 


15 


On one of the week-end holidays which she 
spent at home Aleen recalled the fact that Bob- 
ert drove the cows through the woods to a creek 
for water each afternoon; so she saddled her 
own horse, rode down the road in the opposite 
direction until she was out of sight and made 
a detour through the woods to the cow-path 
back of the Carlton stable. Following this fa- 
miliar track she rode up behind Bobert. 

“Hello, Bob.” 

“Why, Aleen! What are you doing here?” 

“I came to help water the cows.” 

He had a brief struggle with his aggressive 
conscience which urged him to send her back. 
But his heart proved much the larger organ 
and conscience soon gave up the unequal 
contest. 

They rode along chatting and exchanging 
neighborhood gossip and stories of the big city 
of which Aleen had frequent glimpses under 
the convoy of the head teacher. Then they 
talked of school-days in Ashland, which in the 
exaggerated perspective of budding maturity, 
seemed ages away. 

“Do you remember how mad I was the time 
you shook the nuts down on my head out of this 


16 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


very tree?” she asked, pointing to a large 
hickory. 

“Good old times, weren’t they?” he mur- 
mured. 

“Yes; but would you care to turn back the 
clock and live them over again?” 

“I would prefer to stop the hands right 
now,” he declared, thinking of how their ways 
must diverge as they grew older. 

The path narrowed and they rode single-file, 
Aleen in the lead. Many large trees shaded 
them. Blue- jays screamed at the intrusion. A 
squirrel leaped from branch to branch and 
chatted angrily at the clumsy bipeds whose 
awkwardness chained them to earth. A mock- 
ing-bird warbled a few notes from a low bush 
somewhere to the right. 

On reaching the creek it was necessary to 
give the cattle a chance to drink leisurely, so 
the young people rode down the edge of the 
stream until they came to a clearing. 

“Bob, there is a good place for a race. Bess 
can beat your old cow-pony down to those trees. 
Come on ! ” 

What man would not have followed such a 
leader? Robert slapped his horse with his 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


17 


cattle-whip and was soon in close pursuit. Both 
animals leaped into a run as though they en- 
joyed the sport as much as their riders. 

Robert’s face glowed with admiration more 
than with the exercise as he witnessed Aleen’s 
perfect horsemanship. His heart thumped in 
unison with the hoof -beats. Her hat flew otf at 
the flrst bound. Her fair hair, loosened by the 
wind, was soon about her shoulders or blowing 
back in tangled luxuriance. She leaned for- 
ward with rein in one hand and whip in the 
other and occasionally looked back with a vic- 
torious smile. 

Robert’s cautious nature made him draw rein 
before reaching the trees. 

‘ ‘ Come on, if you think you can catch me 1 ” 
she called back to him as she swerved her horse 
to one side of a big elm and continued her way 
into the forest. 

The spirit of the Lorelei is not confined to 
water. It is amphibious. Robert plunged his 
horse in after her. 

After passing into this opening, Robert re- 
membered a mire at the opposite end, which 
extended from the creek to the timber. It was 
a large bed of quicksand, on the surface of 


18 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


which a film of mud had formed. On this 
veneer of clay sufficient vegetation had sprouted 
to give it the appearance of solidity. From the 
bottom of the quagmire there arose a quantity 
of water, forming the largest spring in that sec- 
tion. At this time of the year it was most 
dangerous. 

Toward this deceptive death-trap Aleen was 
now urging her horse, several rods in front of 
Robert. 

“Aleen! Stop! The mire!” he called and 
lashed his horse desperately. 

She could not hear his words, and misinter- 
preting his eagerness to catch up with her, she 
only smiled at his efforts. 

Again he called, but the hoof-beats of the 
horses prevented her from understanding him. 
Had he had sufficient presence of mind to have 
stopped doubtless she would have done like- 
wise, but he was gaming on her, and in the brief 
time which he had for planning his only safe 
course seemed to be to overtake her. 

His gain was temporary, for when she saw it 
she urged Bess to greater speed, laughing gaily 
at his discomfiture. The horses were within a 
few strides of the bog before Robert reached 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


19 


her bridle-rein. He succeeded only in checking 
their speed sufficiently to prevent Aleen from 
being thrown over the head of her horse, as 
Bess made one last leap into' the mire, where 
side by side the two horses struggled on a few 
feet and went up to their knees in the horrible 
sucking ooze. Robert struck madly at each 
horse with his whip, but their efforts to get out 
only sank them deeper in the quicksand. 

“Oh, Bob! Is this what you were trying to 
tell me about?” 

“Yes, Aleen, I tried to warn you. Draw 
your feet up on the saddle.” 

“Will the horses go down. Bob?” 

“I am afraid they will. I must get you out.” 

Aleen had always felt safe with Robert, but 
his manner now convinced her of the great dan- 
ger in which they were placed. 

“Quick, Bob, ' take my hand. We will run 
out.” 

“Wait a minute, Aleen. We can do that as a 
last resort, when the horses get down to their 
backs. They are sinking more slowly now. Let 
me think.” 

By this time all resistance had ceased on the 
part of the horses and only their staring eye- 


20 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


balls and distended veins gave evidence of their 
mortal terror. 

Robert and Aleen were now standing well up 
on the horses’ shoulders. 

“Bob, quick ! W e must do something. ’ ’ 

“Aleen, I am sure I can crawl out of here 
alone. Stand higher up on Bess and I will soon 
provide some way for helping you.” 

“No, do not leave me. I will go, too, if you 
attempt to do so.” 

“That would ruin our chances. Our feet 
would stick at the first step. I can get out alone 
and will surely get back before Bess goes under. 
If I do not, we will go down together.” 

She took his hand which met hers half-way. 

“What are you looking at. Bob?” 

His gaze was directed toward the limb of a 
walnut-tree which hung above the mire and 
reached over the bog at right angles to the 
horses and midway between them and solid 
ground. 

“I have a plan,” he suddenly announced. He 
dragged the stirrup-straps from the clinging 
sands and taking both bridle-reins from the 
horses he tied them all together, leaving a stir- 
rup on one end. When he had done this he 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


21 


noticed that both of his feet were in the mire 
over his ankles. He tried to get them up and 
they stuck as though they were pinioned. Every 
struggle fastened them more tightly. 

“Heaven help us, Bob. Are you fast?” she 
cried, seeing his vain efforts to extricate him- 
self. 

He did not answer, hut gave her a reassuring 
look. Then placing one hand on the horse and 
the other on the saddle he pulled with all of his 
strength on his left foot, which slowly slipped 
out of his boot. After a longer pull the other 
foot was extricated, leaving both boots buried. 

He then took the stirrup end of the cable he 
had made and tossed it over the limb of the 
tree where it hung from the other side almost 
to the ground. The problem of recovering that 
end and completing the loop around the branch 
was easily solved. One snap of his long cattle- 
whip and it sprang out like a snake, curled its 
tip around the stirrup and quickly drew it in. 
The two ends were fastened together, and Aleen 
taking hold of the stirrup, was given a vigorous 
push and landed safely on terra firma. 

“Thank heaven,” he whispered, as he saw 
her alight. 


22 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 

The backs of the horses were now about three 
inches above the surface. 

“Hurry, Bob,” she cried, as she swung the 
strap back to him. It was child’s play for him 
to swing across and he was by her side in an 
instant. 

‘ ‘ Thank God ! ’ ’ she exclaimed, excitedly clasp- 
ing his arm with both her hands. Thus they 
stood and sadly watched their beloved horses 
sink slowly out of sight. 

The sun had gone down behind a black cloud. 
A roll of thunder reminded them of their situa- 
tion and caused them to hurry back to the cow- 
path. By the time they reached it night had 
fallen and it was too dark to tell where they 
were walking. 

It began to rain, and except for the flashes of 
lightning they could not see a thing. Robert 
walked ahead of Aleen, leading her with one 
hand, while with the other he did his best to pro- 
tect them both from scratches and collisions. 
Notwithstanding his care, their mishaps were 
numerous, and his unshod feet received many 
wonnds from the broken limbs which covered 
the ground. 

“Bob, hadn’t we better stay here until we can 
see?” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


23 


“Your folks will be worried about you. We 
must get home if possible. Take my hat and 
coat, ’ ’ he urged, helping her on with the latter 
garment. 

“My dress has caught. Bob,” she said, when 
they were trying to get out of a fallen tree-top 
blown down by the storm. 

He leaned over to unfasten her when the 
sharp point of a broken branch pierced his 
cheek below the eye. 

“It isn’t loose yet,” she said, impatiently. 

He said nothing about his injury, but leaned 
over again and detached her from the obstruc- 
tion. They were both soaked through. 

‘ ‘ Bob, we must wait until we can see. I won ’t 
go another step. ’ ’ 

“ It is pretty dark, ’ ’ he admitted. ‘ ‘ Let ’s try 
to find some shelter.” 

They soon discovered, by the aid of the light- 
ning, a big hollow tree, at the base of which 
coons and campers had gnawed and burned 
until it was large enough to shelter one person. 
In this recess Aleen cuddled herself while Rob- 
ert tried to find the driest side of the tree, 
which happened to be right beside Aleen. There 
was little more lightning, but the rain fell in 


24 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


torrents. Aleen was fairly comfortable, and al- 
though he was without shoes, coat or hat, Rob- 
ert was perfectly happy when a little later a 
small hand slyly crept out to him in the dark- 
ness and laid itself trustingly in his big strong 
palm. 

Her even breathing soon told him that she 
was asleep. He fought off his own weariness 
and kept his lone vigil until the rain ceased and 
the sky cleared. She awoke with a little start. 

“Why, Bob, aren’t you awfully cold?” And 
truthful Robert was obliged to admit that he 
had not noticed whether he was or not. 

He had been busy with his thoughts trying to 
picture a future for himself without Aleen. He 
knew why her parents had sent her away to a 
finishing school. “To put a finish to my 
hopes,” he muttered. He had no foolish ideas 
of impossible achievements that would bring 
Mr. Hilliard to look upon him as a desirable 
son-in-law. He was intensely practical and saw 
but too plainly his ineligibility as a suitor from 
a worldly point of view. Could he overcome 
parental objections he had no desire to be the 
pensioner of a wealthy father-in-law, and on 
the other hand he would never permit Aleen to 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


25 


surrender a single one of the luxuries which 
were hers by right of her queenly nature. Even 
their existing relations could not continue be- 
cause of his poverty. Did she love him? He 
knew that she liked to be with him, to dance 
with him, to walk and talk with him, but meas- 
ured by the depth of his devotion that might 
be mere sisterly affection. How he longed for 
money, not with which to buy her love, hut to 
provide for her a shelter from every adverse 
wind that might blow. How cruel of fate to 
throw them constantly together and to place be- 
tween them the most sordid of obstacles — an 
obstacle to him more than to her. 

It was after nine o’clock when the full moon 
shone through the clouds and showed them how 
near to the path they had been all the time. 
Never was moon so unwelcome to love-sick 
youth, for it revealed to him the way out of his 
little temporary dream-paradise. 

They started homeward arm-in-arm and 
walked a few steps in silence. 

“Bob, how long did I sleep?” 

“Over an hour.” 

“I dreamed of you. Bob.” 

“And I dreamed of many things, Aleen.” 


26 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“Wliy, Bob, what is the matter with your 
face?” 

“Just a scratch where a limb struck me. It’s 
nothing.” 

She turned his face toward the moon with a 
touch of her little white hand. 

‘ ‘ Bob boy, you have cut your cheek badly. An 
inch higher and your eye might have been put 
out.” 

The touch of her hand, the sympathy in her 
voice would have been ample compensation even 
for that, he thought. 

“It will be all right in a day or two,” he said, 
unconcernedly. “We must hurry on; your 
father will be organizing a searching-party.” 

After following the path for what seemed to 
them a very short distance they emerged from 
the woods and soon reached the meadow-fence, 
in sight of Aleen’s home. Mrs. Hilliard was at 
the gate just starting to look for her daughter. 
Her anxiety quickly turned to anger when she 
saw Aleen was safe and in the company of 
Eobert. 

“What do you mean, young lady, staying out 
until this time of night with Bob Carlton? I 
am not surprised at him, but thought you had 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


27 


better sense. Your father has been searching 
everywhere for you. Here he conies now. ’ ’ 

Mr. Hilliard drove up, looking hot and angry, 
and his horses were breathing as though they 
had been driven hard. 

“Is that you, Aleen?” he called. 

“Yes, Father,” she replied as sweetly as 
though nothing had happened. 

“Where have you been?” 

“Down with Bob, watering the cattle,” she 
answered meekly, gazing with a smile at her 
disheveled knight who stood a few feet away in 
shirt sleeves and almost bare feet. 

“Haven’t I told you to have nothing to do 
with Bob Carlton?” he roared. “Aren’t you 
ashamed of yourself? You are getting too big 
to be running around at night with such a fel- 
low. Where is Bess?” 

“She is in the Donohue mire with Bob’s 
horse, where we might have been but for Bob’s 
strength and skill. We rode into it accidentally 
and were so long getting out that we were 
caught in the storm and then we lost our way 
in the woods.” 

“Bess in the mire and my daughter in the 
woods with that pauper,” fumed Mr. Hilliard. 


28 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


Then lie turned to Robert. “How dare you 
lay traps for my daughter and inveigle her into 
the woods. It’s a pity you did not go down with 
the horses.” 

As usual, Robert was speechless under fire. 
Any defence he might make would throw part 
of the blame on Aleen, and he preferred to 
shoulder the whole burden. His silence in- 
creased Mr. Hilliard’s rage. 

“Get off the place. Never come near here 
again ! ” he yelled, starting as if to strike Rob- 
ert. 

“Father, you forget that he saved my life. 
Would you strike the man who did that?” 
Aleen stepped between the two men and slowly 
drew off Robert’s coat. When Mr. Hilliard saw 
the coat on Aleen ’s shoulders he recognized this 
additional courtesy on the part of the “pauper” 
and his rage abated. 

Aleen walked over to Robert and in handing 
him the garment she gave his hand a warm 
clasp under its protecting cover. This action 
expressed more than words. 

“Thank you. Bob. Put something on your 
cheek when you get home. Come in, Father.” 

Robert was being scored for her again, but 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


29 


this time her sense of justice had developed suf- 
ficiently to make her offer some small resist- 
ance. Her thanks and the stolen pressure of 
the hand blotted out all bitterness engendered 
by Mr. Hilliard’s treatment. 

When he reached home his father met him at 
the gate. 

“Robert, we have been anxious about you. 
Where have you been and where is old Dick?” 

He recounted briefly what had happened, 
shielding Aleen from all blame and omitting all 
reference to the scene with Mr. Hilliard. 

“Thank God, you are safe, my boy. We can 
break in the colt to drive with Charlie, so we 
will still have a team. It is a miracle that you 
both got out of that place.” 

Then his mother appeared. 

“Robert, are you hurt?” 

“It’s just a scratch, Mother. My most serious 
damage is the loss of my boots while old Dick 
is sinking to the bottom of the Donohue mire, 
thanks to my boyishness.” 

But both of these dear old people completely 
forgot everything else in their joy at their son’s 
deliverance. 


30 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER III 

THE PARTING OP THE WATS 

Robert did not see Aleen for several weeks 
after their adventure in the woods. Her 
parents kept a close eye on her for a while, but 
her constant teasing finally persuaded them to 
let her ride another horse. She usually started 
in the opposite direction from Carlton’s, but 
her horse soon learned the exact spot where 
he was expected to counter-march and executed 
the manoeuvre with hardly a hint from the 
bridle-rein. 

If Bob was working in the field near the road 
she always stopped to chat with him. 

On one occasion Mr. Hilliard saw them thus 
talking together and charged her with disobe- 
dience, but she was ready with a plausible ex- 
cuse that her saddle-girth was loose. 

“Hello, Bob,” she called, riding up to where 
he was trimming a hedge along the road one 
day. It was wonderful how much attention 
was needed by that strip of hedge. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


31 


“Have you been invited to the big dance at 
Glossop’s barn?” she asked. 

“Yes, but I do not think I will go.” 

“Oh, pshaw! I wanted you to take me.” 

“That would be grand, but you knojv what 
your folks — ” 

“I have arranged to side-track them for that 
occasion,” she interrupted, with a little laugh. 

‘ ‘ They will never know it. I am going over to 
Sprague’s to stay all night with Mary. Mr. 
Walton will call for her. You can come there 
for me. Think of it! An oyster supper and 
Sarber’s full orchestra to play. The floor will 
be waxed and a whole tubful of lemonade is 
in preparation, and I am going and you are 
going with me,” she concluded, very emphati- 
cally. 

How could Eobert resist a little scheme so 
nicely planned and so peremptorily put before 
him? He had not danced for a long time. 
There seemed little chance of being discovered, 
and if they were found out he could, as usual, 
shoulder the blame. 

“What a lark it will be,” she exclaimed. 

Although he joined in her smile, she noticed 
that he remained silent. 


32 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“Maybe you don’t want to go with me,” she 
pouted, falling back on her reserves. 

“Aleen, you know I want to go, but — ” 

“But me, no buts,” she broke in. “It’s all 
settled. We will go. Be there about eight. 
Good-bye until Friday. We must not talk 
longer. Long interviews are hard to explain 
and my stock of excuses is running low,” she 
said, starting the horse down the road in a 
canter. 

The following Friday night Robert and Aleen 
walked into the big barn where Dick Barber’s 
musicians were tuning their instruments while 
their proud leader, who was also floor-manager, 
and did the “calling” for quadrilles, exchanged 
gossip with the early arrivals. The barn soon 
shook with the steps of the young crowd. That 
was one of the happiest nights of their lives. 

A short time before the final dance, which 
of course belonged to Bob, Aleen waltzed with 
Ben Higgins. The ribbon to her fan broke and 
she asked him to put it in his pocket. After 
the dance he forgot to return it and carried it 
home. 

A day or two later as Ben was driving past 
the Hilliard place, on his way to Wheatland, 


BOB CAELTON, AJ^IEEICAN 


33 


lie stopped to leave the fan. Aleen was not at 
home. 

“It appears like she is always horse-back 
riding lately,” said the hired girl. 

Mr. Hilliard came out of the sitting-room, 
morning paper in hand, to learn the caller’s 
business. 

“Why, hello, Ben, is that you? Can’t you 
come in?” 

“No thank you, Mr. Hilliard. I carried 
Aleen ’s fan away from the dance the other 
night, so I thought I would leave it as I went 
past.” 

“What dance?” asked Mr. Hilliard. 

“Friday night, at Glossop’s barn.” 

“Was Aleen there?” 

Poor Ben saw that he had let the cat out of 
the bag, but being a mere man was unsupplied 
with a subterfuge. 

“Why, yes,” he admitted. 

“Who took her?” 

“I did not see her come in.” 

“Well, you probably saw her go out. I never 
heard of your leaving a dance until they put 
the lights out. Who took her home?” 

“Bob Carlton,” answered Ben, reluctantly, 


34 


BOB CABLTON, AMBKICAN 


and made his exit as quickly as possible, re- 
gretting that he had not thrown the fan into the 
creek. Like all the young people in the neigh- 
borhood he knew that Bob and Aleen were 
“keeping company” and like most of them his 
sympathies were with the young people. 

Mr. Hilliard promptly reported the latest 
move to his wife. Aleen was fortunate in not 
being within hearing of her parents’ rage for 
the first few minutes after Higgins’ departure. 

Mr. Hilliard at once sought Kobert and 
found him ploughing in the field next to the 
road. 

“Good morning,” said Kobert, very cordial- 
ly, as he reached the end of the furrow where 
Mr. Hilliard was standing. 

“Young ruan,” said Mr. Hilliard, in a voice 
which he tried hard to keep down. “I learned 
by accident that you took Aleen to a barn- 
dance the other night. Is that true, sir?” 

“It is,” coolly answered Robert. 

Mr. Hilliard’s face darkened with rage. 

Robert could think of no explanation that 
would not involve Aleen, and stood silently 
awaiting the attack. 

“Didn’t I tell you to let her alone?” Hil- 






“ ‘Didn’t I tell you to let her alone?’ ” 






BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


35 


Hard fairly yelled, shaking his trembling fist at 
the unmoved Robert. 

“I believe you did,” was the frank reply. 

“Look here, young man, either you or she 
must leave this neighborhood.” 

He paused a moment and then continued in 
a lower tone: 

“If you are willing to go and are kept at 
home by lack of money, I will give you a start. 
How would three hundred dollars strike you to 
leave the State and stay away? Come now, 
what do you say?” 

Mr. Hilliard never knew how near something 
came to striking him at that instant, but Rob- 
ert only tightened his grasp of the plow- 
handles. His lips closed firmly to prevent his 
thoughts from finding egress. Give up Aleen, 
forever? What right had this man to demand 
such a sacrifice and how dared he place a 
money consideration in the scale. 

Mr. Hilliard misconstrued his silence and 
thought Robert was wavering. 

“It would be outrageous for you to marry 
Aleen. She would never get a penny of my 
money, remember that. She has never had a 
want denied her and has been given every lux- 


36 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


ury that a young girl’s fancy could imagine. 
If she married you it would mean a life of toil 
and the contrast would make her hate you 
within a year. Even if you think you love 
Aleen you cannot be blind to her fondness for 
pleasure and ease. She has never lifted her 
hand to work. It would be barbarous to drag 
her to your level and to attribute your action 
to love. Think how you would feel when you 
awoke to the fact that you had permitted her 
to give up her present surroundings for a life 
of poverty. Do you imagine that either of you 
would ever know a happy hour after the first 
silly gush of your honeymoon had exhausted 
itself?” 

He had chosen well his line of argument. 

“Stop,” said Eobert, contemptuously. “No 
word of marriage has ever passed between 
Aleen and me. Like foolish children, we have 
lived only in the present. I promise you that 
I will never marry your daughter while I am 
poor. She will never have cause to upbraid me 
for that.” 

“Now you are talking sense. I never knew 
you to lie, and I accept your promise. How 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


37 


about my other proposition? Will you leave 
Illinois, if I pay you for going?” 

Robert’s mind hardly caught the latter part 
of the sentence, but he saw many arguments in 
favor of his departure. If he did not go, things 
would drift on as before. The longer he stayed 
the harder it would be for him to give her up. 
He would not think of being the cause of her 
banishment. This last threat brought a new 
possibility into the case, and he knew that Mr. 
Hilliard would keep his word. What a sacri- 
fice this heartless man was demanding of him. 
And yet was he not pointing out to him the 
only path that would eventually lead to Aleen, 
although at the outset it pointed away from 
her? Did she love him? He did not know. He 
only dreamed that she did and preferred an 
uncertain hope to a possible rejection. Why 
ask her to give so much when he had nothing 
to offer in exchange? Yes, it was best for them 
to be as far apart as possible until he had made 
a start. He could help his parents just as well 
elsewhere. After all of these thoughts had 
passed rapidly through his mind, he looked up 
and said: 

“Yes, Mr. Hilliard, I wiU go.” 


38 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“Good! I thougM you would do it. I will 
bring you the money to-morrow.” 

“No you won’t,” responded Eobert, indig- 
nantly. “Do you suppose that my love for 
Aleen can be bought for cash like merchandise. 
You are a rich man, Mr. Hilliard, but you 
haven’t money enough to turn one thought 
away from her. Love and heaven are two 
things that have no price-tag. Keep your 
money. Use it to make her happy and it will 
accomplish the purpose to which my life would 
have been dedicated had fortune been kinder.” 

Eobert lifted the reins from the plow- 
handles, clucked to his badly-matched team and 
left Mr. Hilliard standing in the furrow. 

That night he told his parents of his inten- 
tion to leave home and fully disclosed the rea- 
sons for his hasty departure. Eecognizing the 
wisdom of the step and not wishing to cloud a 
sky already dark by selfish considerations, they 
concurred in his plans. 

The following day Eobert called on Mr. Pax- 
ton, whom he knew was about to ship a carload 
of horses to Denver. Mr. Paxton was glad to 
put the shipment into such reliable hands and 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


89 


gladly furnished him transportation and suffi- 
cient money for his expenses en route. 

That night a very serious conclave was held 
in the little Carlton kitchen. 

“I am sorry, my boy, that I am unable to 
give you a money start in the world,” said his 
father, “but you have good principles and good 
health and they will be useful to you in many 
places where money might not.” 

Robert recognized the desirable qualities of 
these assets, but he longed for something more 
tangible, something that he could jingle in the 
ears of Aleen’s father. Good principles were 
not quoted on the stock-exchange. 

The next night was his last one in Ashland. 
He went over to Paxton’s to arrange the final 
details of his trip, after which he sat and chat- 
ted with Emma Paxton, a girl about his own 
age, and told her of his plans and of his high 
hopes in connection therewith, carefully omit- 
ting all reference to the Hilliards or Aleen. 
Neither paid any attention to one of Mr. Hil- 
liard’s men who stopped for a few minutes at 
the Paxton gate. But the man had heard of 
Robert’s proposed departure and made a men- 


40 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


tal note of what he thought was a farewell call 
on Emma. 

On the way home, Robert rode past the Hil- 
liard place and took a last look at the house 
which held the whole world for him. He walked 
his horse slowly, hoping to get a final glimpse 
of Aleen through the window, or at least to be 
baptised by one ray of light from her lamp. He 
was so intent in his gaze at the house that he 
did not notice Aleen at the gate until he had 
nearly passed it. 

“Is that you. Bob?” she called. 

His first impulse was to stop and say good- 
bye. But he knew that if she had the slightest 
hint of his plans she would draw from him the 
whole story, so he passed on as though he had 
not heard her. 

The next morning he bade his father and 
mother farewell. His father tried to force on 
him part of his scanty savings, but Robert was 
firm in his refusal. He felt sure he could get 
work as soon as he reached Denver and his 
father would have need for all of his money to 
pay the rent on his little farm. 

His mother clung to him a long time, but hid 
as much of her grief as she could. As a girl 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


41 


she had said “God speed” to his father, her 
lover, and had welcomed him back with a cheery 
smile, even though he had but one arm with 
which to draw her to him. What a parody on 
life to call such women the weaker sex. 

Mr. Hilliard learned that Robert had gone 
to Denver and he lost no time in relating the 
news to his wife, in the presence of Aleen. 

“Well, Mother, I’ve good news for you. Bob 
Carlton has left the country.” 

He watched Aleen closely and saw her face 
color as she caught her breath and bit her lip. 

“Well, it does seem that people can travel 
when they haven’t the money for anything 
else.” 

“He went with a carload of horses on a 
stock-pass. He never could have gone in any 
other way.” 

“Where did he go?” asked Aleen, in as calm 
a voice as she could command. 

“He went to Denver with the horses. I don’t 
know where he will go from there. It will de- 
pend on the walking, probably. ” 

Aleen went out the back door and sat on the 
steps. She wanted air, quiet, anything but 
that rasping, sarcastic voice of her father’s. 


42 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


She almost felt that if she heard it again she 
would hate him. 

While sitting there the hired man came along. 
He was one of those unfortunate mortals who 
thrive best in rural communities, although they 
are not altogether unknown in the cities — a 
dealer in trouble. Having no business of his 
own, he attended to that of every one else, and 
as a he-gossip he had never suspended circula- 
tion for twenty-five years. 

“Better look out fer that stiddy of yourn. 
He ain’t so blame stiddy as you think him. I 
seen him a-sittin’ in the Paxton parlor last 
night sparkin’ Emmy.” 

“How could you see them in the parlor?” 
snapped Aleen. 

“I stopped at the gate a bit and jest hap- 
pened to look in the winder.” 

She did not answer, but went to her room. 
Her heart told her that Bob was true, hut her 
eyes told her that he had certainly passed their 
gate last night and ignored her attempt to 
speak to him. She would hide her grief from 
the heartless world. There was none to whom 
she could go for sympathy. She could not 
parade her love for a man who had never asked 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


43 


her for it. She sat at her window, from which 
she could view the Carlton cottage. Her brief 
life passed in panorama before her. There was 
the big cottonwood tree, under which she and 
Robert had played, oh, so many years ago. At 
the end of the orchard was the rail-fence, over 
which he had helped her so many times on their 
way to and from school. In his father’s yard 
was one lone cherry tree, which they had both 
climbed so many Jnne-times to pick the luscious 
fruit. She smiled as she remembered how she 
had tried to teach him to bite the cherry and 
leave the seed hanging on the tree so as to 
throw suspicion away from the real culprits 
and onto the birds. But even there, honest Bob 
could see no humor in the suggestion, but re- 
pelled it as a form of deception. Then there 
was the patch of wild-strawberries, of which 
he was the sole discoverer, but which they 
shared together. And the wild-rose bushes 
which had about three thorns to each blossom 
and which he forbade her to touch, but filled 
her apron with blooms and his hands with 
scratches as the result of his labors. Dear, 
rough, red hands that held within their grasp 


44 


BOB CAELTON. AMEEICAN 


her throbbing little heart, and had gone away 
without a farewell clasp. 

“Now it is all over,” she sighed, with the 
finality of youth. “I could write to him at 
Denver, but I will not until he has written to 
me and explained why he spent his last even- 
ing with another girl and went away without 
so much as a good-bye to me. I am sure that 
it was he who rode by here last night and I 
am sure he heard me, and he never could have 
cared for me, or he would have stopped.” 

She arose from the window with a half-sob 
and then something came up in her heart that 
calmed the sea of anger. 

“He was driven away. He will come back 
to claim me, and I will wait for him for I love 
him, I do, I do. Come back. Bob, come back. ’ ’ 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


45 


CHAPTER rV 

A GOOD SAMAEITAN 

, On arriving in Denver with, the carload of 
horses, Robert turned them over to the parties 
to whom they were consigned. Denver did not 
strike him as offering many attractions to a 
man whose principal assets were good health 
and good morals. He found the city as metro- 
politan in its physical aspects as the older com- 
munities of the East, although its people were 
possessed of the charming hospitality that 
moves westward a little ahead of the star of 
empire and seems to have only one permanent 
abiding-place on our continent, south of Mason 
and Dixon’s line. In looking for work he 
found himself in competition with an army of 
‘‘lungers,” who sought to prolong their lives 
in the high altitudes of Colorado and who 
gladly accepted employment at almost any 
wages that would afford them a living. 

He noticed glowing reports in the Denver 
papers of recent rich “strikes” in the Cripple 


46 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Creek district and resolved to take the first 
train for that alluring region before he had ex- 
hausted his small cash reserve. 

It was his plan to accept any kind of a place 
that he could get, and study law at night. He 
already had laid the foundations of this work by 
poring over Blackstone and Coke, borrowed 
from a lawyer’s office, and eagerly read during 
the long winter evenings at home. 

On arriving in Cripple Creek he made inquiry 
of a citizen as to the best way to find work in 
the mines, and was told to join a union if he 
wanted the privilege of earning his living in 
that neighborhood. Robert had a preconceived 
prejudice against labor unions and his quietly 
obstinate nature resisted a demand where it 
might have yielded to a request. He said he 
would wait and see. 

“All right, partner; if you prefer the ‘wait- 
ers’ ’ union. But the only thing that comes 
to the feller what waits in these diggin’s is 
wrinkles in the stomach.” 

After paying his last dollar for supper, 
lodging and breakfast, he spent the day in 
canvassing the business portion of the town 
for employment. About every man he accosted 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


47 


would look at his vigorous frame and say, “You 
don’t want any store job. Why don’t you go 
out to the mines.” Upon being informed that 
he had no union-card the storekeeper would 
promptly refuse to risk his popularity by em- 
ploying a “scab.” 

Toward evening he became hungry and made 
a mistake which one more schooled in adversity 
would never have made. He picked out the 
best looking house in sight and knocked at the 
door, asking for work. The woman who opened 
it in a gingerly manner emphatically said 
“No,” and slammed the door in his face. Such 
treatment was hard for him to endure, and he 
walked for several blocks, wondering what he 
should do. 

He concluded to try another pretentious- 
looking house, and was relieved when a man 
answered his summons. Eobert briefly told of 
his plight, stated that he had been looking for 
work all day, that he was out of money, and 
would like to do something, anything, in ex- 
change for a bite to eat and a place in which 
to sleep. 

The man looked at him for a moment and 
sneered: “You don’t look like you were starv- 


48 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


ing and I don’t believe in indiscriminate char- 
ity. There is no excuse for a husky chap like 
you being a tramp. ’ ’ 

Under this second blow Robert’s spirits sank. 
He strolled around to the waiting-room of the 
stage-line and sat down to rest. 

It was seven o’clock when, almost discour- 
aged, he walked aimlessly up a little cross- 
street which seemed perpendicular to feet 
trained on the level Illinois prairies. After 
going several blocks he came to a little square 
church which occupied a very small corner of 
a large vacant lot. A light was burning, and 
through an open door came the air of a fa- 
miliar hymn, and he sat down on the curb and 
listened while the congregation sang: 

“Lead kindly light; 

Amid the encircling gloom. 

Lead thou me on.” 

It was not so much the familiar words by 
means of which Bishop Newman’s hymn has 
pierced the darkness which seemingly sur- 
rounds so many earthly paths as the spirit 
which animated the singers that acted as a 
balm to his resentful feelings. They sang as 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


49 


thougli they meant it. Robert, tired and dis- 
couraged, joined with them in a low tone when 
they reached the lines — 

“The night is dark and I am far from home. 
Lead thou me on.” 

What had been to him merely beautiful words 
before were now surcharged with meaning. 
His mind went back to his home and the love 
and comforts which he had left behind. He 
could see his mother knitting or sewing by the 
kitchen stove and his father in the sitting-room, 
in front of the hearth, holding in his only hand 
the morning paper, the empty sleeve dangling 
from the right shoulder. An instant later he 
was gazing in imagination into a pair of gray 
eyes that blended mischief and love into a 
sparkle which he would rather die than see 
dimmed by a tear. Then there came to him a 
sense of isolation that was well-nigh over- 
♦whelming. 

“Separated from all who love me by the 
sordid ambition of a heartless father,” he 
thought when, as though in reproof, he heard 
coming from the little church the words: 


50 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“What can separate us from the love of 
Christ ? ’ ’ 

Instantly all his early training at his moth- 
er’s knee asserted itself and he arose, pos- 
sessed with a sense of the nearness of Cod and 
His availability in every time of trouble. 

Ashamed of his momentary depression, he 
arose and started down the street, determined 
to find work and confident of the outcome. 

He soon reached a poorer neighborhood. At 
the first little cabin he hesitated. It had a 
board-roof with battens over the cracks. The 
sides were re-enforced with building paper. 

“These people must be poor,” he thought. 
“They cannot give me work, and if they offered 
me charity I would be ashamed to take it.” 
He had yet to learn that the most liberal giver 
in this world is the one who has the least. But 
remembering his futile attempts at the better 
houses, he resolved to risk it. 

A man came to the door clad in miner’s garb. 
His heavy shoes were laced nearly to the knees 
and his flannel shirt-sleeves were rolled up to 
the elbow. His round shoulders told the story 
of his long and useless struggle with mother 
nature in the cramped recesses of the prospec- 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


51 


tor’s tunnel. The grey in his beard marked 
him with the stamp of middle age, though his 
ruddy face, brawny arms and muscular hands 
indicated a strength for many more years of 
work. The kind expression in his eyes was one 
that made him at once the friend and comrade 
of every child or dumb animal that looked into 
them. 

Robert had not finished telling his story when 
the door swung open. 

“Ye look like ye’re tellin’ the truth. Come 
in. We ain’t got much, but we’ll divide with 
ye till ye find sumthin’ better.” 

Robert was so overcome by this welcome, 
after his previous experiences, that his grati- 
tude could only find expression in a hearty 
grasp of the rough hand extended to him. He 
related his experiences during the day and told 
of his reception at the other houses. 

“Ye can’t tell the size of a man’s heart by 
the size of his house. If some of these fellers 
that hadn’t nothin’ three years ago was shrunk 
up as bad as their hearts they wouldn’t need no 
doors to their big houses. They could go in 
through the key-holes. Have ye had supper?” 


52 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“No, I haven’t had anything to eat since 
breakfast.” 

“The deuce ye haven’t. Do ye hear that, 
Katie?” asked the miner, turning to his wife. 

“The little money I had gave out this morn- 
ing,” Robert started to explain. 

“Bosh! Ye’re too thin-skinned, partner. We 
ain’t got no license to run a hotel, and if we 
don’t bother about the pay, you needn’t.” 

“But how will I ever compensate you for 
this?” asked Robert, repelled by the thought 
of being a beggar. 

“We’ll talk about the pay after ye’ve put 
away the grub. It’s purty hard to fix values 
on an empty stomach. Besides, a feller don’t 
know what a meal is wuth until it’s eat. Don’t 
blame the cook for the lack of variety, partner, 
fer she’s the finest little cook that ever flipped 
a flap- jack, but she’s a little shy on raw mate- 
rial to work on.” 

“You had better sit up to the table. You 
must be very hungry,” said the little woman, 
seeking to change the subject. 

Robert had never been so nearly famished in 
his life. He ate his first slice of bread with- 
out stopping to butter it. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


53 


The other members of Hudson’s family were 
a daughter, fifteen years old, and a little girl, 
just learning to toddle. The former assisted 
her mother in serving the voracious guest, 
while the little one blinked sleepy eyes at the 
stranger. 

The furnishings of the cabin were poor, yet 
there was a home-like neatness to everything 
that gave Robert a comfortable feeling. The 
window-sill was covered with pieces of ore, 
labeled with the names of the mines from which 
they were taken ; a miner ’s glass hung near the 
window; under it sat a mortar, in which was a 
sample of ore, and over the door were sus- 
pended a Winchester rifle, a hunting-knife and 
a belt, full of cartridges. The only covering 
on the floor was two mountain-lion skins. On 
one of these a shepherd dog was lying, with the 
baby beside him tugging bravely at his ears, 
while he frequently responded to her caresses 
by licking her face. 

“I am afraid my appetite is bigger than you 
bargained for,” said Robert, as he finished the 
third doughnut. 

“Why, it’s worth a quarter to see ye eat. 
Ter execution don’t seem to have suffered none 


54 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


from want of practice. Have somethin’ 
more?” 

“No, I thank you. May I ask your name?” 

“Hudson, Jack Hudson is what they call 
me.” 

“Well, Mr. Hudson, how can I pay you for 
your hospitality?” 

“Don’t let that worry ye fer awhile. Where 
do ye hail from?” 

Eobert told his whole story and explained 
why he had no money. 

“Well, you ain’t the fust man that’s struck 
Cripple Creek busted. An’ some of us hain’t 
changed our condition much since our arrival. 
Do ye b’long to the union?” 

“No, sir.” 

“I reckon that’s the main reason why ye 
didn’t find a job. I’m workin’ now in the Inde- 
pendence, but it’s mighty hard fer a non-union 
man to get work. I’ll tell ye what ye might do. 
I know a feller that wants a couple of assess- 
ment holes dug, and I can get ye the job if ye 
care to tackle it.” 

“What is it like?” 

“Well, it’s more like man-u-el labor than 
anything else. Best imitation I ever see. Ye 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


55 


operate with a pick and shovel fer the first ten 
feet and that’s all he wants now. I can lend 
ye the tools.” 

‘ ‘ Thank you. I can handle a pick and shovel 
as well as most men. ’ ’ 

“Then it’s a bet. I’ll see the man in the 
mornin’.” 

“I shall be under great obligations to you 
for your trouble.” 

“ ’Tain’t no trouble, and your feelin’ of obli- 
gation may be toned down somewhat before ye 
finish diggin’.” 

“Have you been mining long?” 

“About twenty years. I’ve prospected from 
Central City to Durango.” 

“With what success!” asked Robert, before 
considering that the surroundings answered the 
question. 

“Purty poor, so far as money goes. All I’ve 
got is within ten feet of us, except Jim. He’s 
my boss. So ye see I’m poor, but I’ve got two 
kids wuth a million apiece and a little woman 
that I wouldn’t swap for the best mine on 
Battle mountain,” and he brought his massive 
palm down on the table to emphasize his re- 
marks. “So ye see, I’m purty well fixed after 
all.” 


56 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


His wife was a little embarrassed by such 
open praise, but, nevertheless, looked at him as 
proudly as though he swung a scepter instead 
of a pickaxe. 

“Don’t ye smoke? And what might ye’re 
name be?” Hudson asked, taking down a tin- 
box in which were some tobacco and two cob- 
pipes. 

“ ‘No,’ to the first question, and ‘Robert 
Carlton’ to the second.” 

“Well, I guess ye’re better otf without the 
weed. But it’s mighty good company when a 
man’s alone in the mountains, and if it’s on- 
healthy, as the doctors say it is, it’s the slowest 
pizen a man ever took into his system.” 

Hudson proceeded to fill and tamp down one 
of the pipes and would have continued his dis- 
course anent the tobacco habit, but Robert 
wanted to turn the conversation into more prac- 
tical channels. 

“I presume a person meets with many ups- 
and-downs in prospecting?” 

“Yes, and some of the ups are quicker than 
the downs, if ye git careless with a dynamite 
stick. But it’s a kind of interestin’ gamble 
with Mother Nature. The old gal has all the 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


57 


skittishness that goes with her sex, and she will 
often let a poor devil starve to death tryin’ to 
win a smile from her, and dump a fortune into 
the lap of some feller that’s only chucked her 
under the chin once or twice. But she man- 
ages to keep all of us thinking that the next 
stroke of the pick will imcover a vein, and she 
whispers into our ears stories of the cuss that 
laid down and quit within five feet of sudden 
wealth, which the next feller got. Ye always 
have a notion that some day he’ll be the next 
feller and that keeps up yer nerve. I work a 
few months and git some money ahead, then I 
prospect until it’s gone and the groceries git 
low. I never landed a fortune yet, but I’ve 
come mighty close to it. I located a claim on 
the same vein where Taber struck his biggest 
bonanza. Mine looked the best on the surface, 
but the ore-shoot dipped into his’n, and I sold 
out fer five hundred. I went into partnership 
with a feller in Aspen. He worked on one 
assessment hole and me on another. He struck 
it, covered up the ore, bought me out fer one 
hundred dollars, and a little while afterward 
sold the claim for fifty thousand. They say 
there’s a sucker born every minit, but I don’t 


58 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


reckon there was one born for an honr after I 
was, it tuk so much material to make such a 
gosh-blamed big ’un. By mighty, that was 
blame near stealin’. How I could ha’ decked 
out Katie and the kids if I’d held onto my share. 
They wouldn’t take no back seat for any of 
’em if I could trim ’em up a bit. Ain’t that so, 
partner ? ’ ’ and he looked admiringly at his little 
flock. 

“It surely is,” said Robert. 

“You’ll have a chance to try it some day, 
Papa,” said his daughter. 

“I hope so, Lizzie girl,” and he puffed a mo- 
ment on his pipe before proceeding. 

“The next good claim I located was at Du- 
rango. It joined claims bein’ worked by a 
syndicate; but I had the vein, and when they 
found it out, they run a cross-cut under me to 
take out the ore. I was onto their game and 
asked ’em to let me go down in their workin’s, 
but they said it was agin the rules of their 
company. So I kept goin’ down on my side of 
the vein ’till I heard them workin’ under me. 
One night I put in a shot that blew through 
into their drift, so I dropped through the hole, 
picked out some ore, walked along to their shaft 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


59 


and rung the bell for ’em to hoist their bucket. 
When they pulled me up their superintendent 
was at the top, and ye never see a more s ’prised 
man in yer life. ‘How did ye get into our 
mine,’ says he. ‘I didn’t,’ I says, ‘I got out o’ 
your mine, but I got into my own mine, ’ I says. 
I told hi m he’d been takin’ my ore, and I wanted 
him to figger up what he owed me. Well, to 
bile it down, they commenced an injunction to 
stop me workin’ my own mine, claiming their 
vein crossed both my side-lines and that I 
couldn’t f oiler it on its dip. I didn’t have no 
money fer lawyers and I sold out to ’em fer a 
thousand dollars. That year we lived high, but by 
the follerin’ spring we was down to bed-rock 
agin. That’s the way it’s been with my strikes 
up to date. I own this cabin, and I’ve got 
enough ahead, so I’m goin’ prospectin’ agin 
next month. I ’low I kin tell a fissure about as 
fur under dirt as most fellers, but I need a gar- 
deen to help me keep what I git.” 

He looked at the hearth and slowly puffed on 
his pipe for awhile as though meditating over 
the past. 

“It’s kind o’ hard on the little woman an’ 
the kids, this prospectin’ game, but I may strike 


60 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


it some day, and then they can make up fer 
lost time.” 

We have always had all we wanted,” said 
his wife. “We four will always be happy to- 
gether, Jack, whether you strike it or not.” 

“I know you alius talk that way, Katie, to 
make me feel good,” he said, dubiously. “I’ve 
been a failure, so far. Burned if I ever sell a 
mine agin. Nobody ever made anythin’ sellin’ 
mines nohow. Some fellers make a plenty sell- 
in’ shares in mines to widders and school- 
ma’ams, but if ever I git to takin’ money away 
from people it’ll be from my own gender.” 

He made several draws at his pipe to start it, 
then continued: 

“That claim ’at sold for five hundred was 
the first money I ever got in a bunch. I couldn’t 
see nothin’ but money in front of me, and per- 
vidin’ fer a family seemed an easy matter. I 
hiked right over to where Katie was livin’ and 
asked her if she would take chances on mar- 
ryin’ such a lookin’ galoot as I was. She was 
nigh twenty years younger ’n me and might ha’ 
done better, but somehow or other she tuk me 
and she’s been workin’ and prayin’ ever since. 
There’s only been one year since that we had a 


BOB OAELTON, AMEEICAN 


61 


surplus, but there hain’t been no what you 
might call sufferin’, an’ there’s been lots of 
happiness in this here shack. But we’ll strike 
it yet, partner, before I’m too old to work. See 
if we don’t.” And he peered thoughtfully into 
the cloud of smoke in front of him as though 
he could see nothing but silver lining. 

“1 hope so, Mr. Hudson,” said Eobert, ris- 
ing to go. “I must not keep you up any 
longer.” 

‘ ‘ Where do you reckon ye ’re goin ’ ? Unless 
our rates are too high, or ye don’t like the cook- 
in’, there ain’t no reason why ye can’t stay 
right here. Ye can sleep on that sofy, pervid- 
in’ ye’ll go to bed last and get up first. I can 
lend ye a pair of blankets that I use out pros- 
pectin’. They’re a little frazzled around the 
edge, but they’re thick in the middle and they’ll 
keep out the coarsest of the cold, as the Irish- 
man said about the hammock.” 

“Circumstances force me to impose myself 
on you, but I give you my word that I will pay 
you as soon as I get some money.” 

“Ye don’t owe me nothin’ yet. Ye ’re my 
company ’till to-morrow, and ye’ll have a 
chance to earn somethin’ by that time.” 


62 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


The cabin contained only two rooms. The 
one in which they had been sitting was used as 
kitchen, dining-room and parlor. The other 
was a bed-room, in which were two beds, sepa- 
rated by a curtain of muslin. Mrs. Hudson 
never objected to Jack’s smoking, but said she 
and the children wanted a place where they 
could sleep and breathe the undiluted air of the 
Rocky Mountains. After the family had gone 
to the other room, Robert removed most of his 
clothing, wrapped himself in the prospector’s 
blankets and was asleep as soon as he struck 
the couch. Hudson’s vibrant summons came 
all too soon to his tired consciousness. 

“Well, how did ye sleep, partner.” 

“Sound as a baby.” 

“Yes, I heerd the sound and wanted to come 
in and turn ye over, but Katie said to leave 
ye alone and think of what she’d been suffering 
these years. ’ ’ 

“Now Jack, quit teasing Mr. Carlton,” in- 
terposed his wife. 

“May I make my home with you while I am 
doing this work?” asked Robert. “Will you 
trust me until I earn the money to pay for my 
board?” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


63 


“If ye can stand the board, partner. I’ll take 
my chances on the bill. ’ ’ 

“I would sooner board here than at any hotel 
in town, even if I had money, Mr. Hudson, and 
the first money I earn belongs to you.” 

“Oh, I shan’t worry about that, my boy. I 
ain’t lost faith in human nature just because 
I’ve been skinned a few times by prospectors. 
Maybe it was my fault, anyhow. When a fel- 
ler’s so blamed easy that he’s a temptation to 
others he’s partly to blame. Katie, put up a 
big lunch for this boy. He’ll be hungry enough 
to eat sage-brush by the time he’s worked a 
few hours on them assessment-holes.” 

The pail was filled, “ Scrip tur’ measure,” as 
Jack said, and Robert was soon testing his 
lungs by his first mountain climb. It is need- 
less to say that he left most of the conversation 
to the more seasoned Hudson, and replied 
briefly : 

“This man, Stratton, that ye’re goin’ to do 
this work fer owns the Independence and Wash- 
ington mines, where I’m workin’, ” remarked 
Hudson, as they neared their destination. “He 
made a strike a few months ago an’ took out ten 
thousand there last month. He’d ha’ done this 


64 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


work himself, but he’s a carpenter and is build- 
in’ some ore-bins in the Independence. He’s 
kind o’ cranky sometimes, but he’s square all 
the time.” 

“Hard to get along with, is he?” 

“Wuss’n that when he’s cantankerous.” 

Mr. Stratton was sawing a plank when they 
arrived at the mine. He was a very dark, thin 
man, with sharp features and sunken eyes, 
which looked like they could pierce right 
through rock and see the hidden treasure under- 
neath. He had on a flannel shirt, open at the 
neck, overalls and cowhide boots. 

“Good morning. Jack,” he said, without stop- 
ping his saw. 

“Stratton, shake hands with Mr. Carlton.” 

‘ ‘ Glad to know you, Carlton, ’ ’ said Mr. Strat- 
ton, giving him a hand, one finger of which was 
bandaged with a cloth. 

“Stratton, this feller came to my house last 
night flat-busted and I took him in. I told him 
you had some holes you wanted dug, and I’ll 
gamble he’s all right. 

“Did you ever mine any ?” to Bobert. 

“No, sir.” 

“Do you think you can dig a couple of holes 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


65 


in the side of this mountain without any help!” 

“Yes, sir." 

“You look it. How do you want to do it, by 
the day or by the job." 

“Suit yourself, sir, but I would prefer it by 
the job." 

“Do you think twenty-five dollars would be 
enough for two holes ten feet deep?" 

“It would seem a liberal price to me," an- 
swered Robert. 

“Well, you’ve got the contract," agreed 
Stratton, and he went out on the claim with 
Robert to show him the locations. 

Robert went down about five feet when he 
struck rock in both holes, and Hudson had to 
give him his first lesson in mining as distin- 
guished from digging. 

When the work was finished Robert called 
Stratton out to measure the depth. 

“Ten and a half feet to each hole," Stratton 
announced, and without parley he took from his 
pocket three ten-dollar bills which he handed 
to Robert. 

“I have no change, Mr. Stratton." 

“I don’t want any, young man. That extra 


66 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


six inches may save the title if those claims are 
jumped.” 

“Do you think I really earned thirty dollars, 
Mr. Stratton?” 

“I certainly do. You must be a combination 
of mule and derrick to get out rock of that 
size.” 

That evening Robert again reminded Hudson 
that he wanted to settle his board-bill. 

“Gittin’ ready to pull out? I ’lowed that pros- 
perity would separate us. Tired of that single- 
barreled bed already, are ye?” 

“Most assuredly not. I want to stay here 
permanently if it can be arranged without in- 
conveniencing you and Mrs. Hudson. ’ ’ 

“If that’s the case we might build a sort of 
a lean-to on this side of the cabin f er yer bunk. ’ ’ 

“That will suit me. If this money will buy 
the material, we can start to put it up to-mor- 
row.” 

“Thirty dollars will buy lumber for con- 
sid’able of a room,” said Hudson. 

So it was arranged and the money was ex- 
pended for building material, Robert doing the 
work of construction. 

Soon after finishing his new abode, Robert 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


67 


secured a position with a lawyer named Dow, 
where he acted as general utility man, copying 
briefs and looking up authorities with the privh 
lege of using Mr. Dow’s library and a stipend 
of five dollars a week, four of which he turned 
over to Mrs. Hudson on every pay-day. 

During the summer, Robert often went over 
the mountains to meet Hudson returning from 
work. Jack would point out to him the differ- 
ent dykes shown by surface indications and they 
took home many pieces of float to pan for 
colors. In this way they covered a good deal 
of ground until one day they discovered a piece 
of untaken land on Battle Mountain, through 
which Hudson declared a vein must extend, 
and he showed Robert the outcropping of it, 
forming almost a direct line to Pike’s Peak, 
fifteen miles away. Hudson was well versed in 
the practical geology of the miner, and ex- 
plained to Robert his theory that the Peak was 
the crater of an extinct volcano which had at 
one time been actively engaged in forming the 
scenery thereabouts, and that any vein extend- 
ing in that direction was a leader from the 
center of the eruption. Upon trenching part 
way across the claim a well-defined vein was 


68 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


nncovered and they filed location papers of the 
“Mountain Queen Lode” mining claim in the 
names of John Hudson and Robert Carlton. 
Soon afterward, they found that there was an 
unoccupied tract of about eight acres joining 
theirs on the north. This they at once pro- 
ceeded to locate, calling it “The Sylvanite.” 

“If a feller gets a good ore-shoot,” declared 
Hudson, “he wants all the public domain ’jinin’ 
or he’s liable to lose it. The only direction 
that it’s safe in leavin’ uncovered is uppards. 
Thet’s one shoot which ye never find no minin’ 
shark takin’. Gold pavements don’t seem to 
draw ’em. The only thing on earth that’s on 
the golden order that they overlook is the gold- 
en rule. It’s taken me a long time to learn it 
the way it’s practiced in the mountains, but the 
fust commandment is ‘Watch yer neighbors.’ 
There ain’t no ‘love yer neighbors’ in minin’ 
regions. Ye can’t take the law on a feller for 
stealin’ in this business Them consarned min- 
in’ laws was made by and for crooks, an ’ll help 
any man ’at wants to steal.” 

Robert spent most of his evenings studying 
law. He frequently assisted Lizzie with the 
problems she brought home from school, while 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


69 


Jack romped on the floor with little Katherine. 
Very frequently Robert ’s mind would turn invol- 
untarily to Aleen, and he would ask himself: 
“Does she ever think of me? Does she know 
why I left home so unceremoniously? Will I 
ever see her again, and how, when, where?” 

To divert his mind, he plunged headlong into 
his law-books and tried to console himself with 
the rectitude of his own motives in leaving her. 


70 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER V 

HIS FIRST CASE 

Robert’s law curriculum was about three 
parts work to one part study. His employer 
was an unconscious exponent of the Squeers’ 
method of imparting instruction. Consequent- 
ly, much of Robert’s time was occupied in at- 
tending justice courts, entering appearances for 
clients, examining county records, filling out 
blanks and work of that nature. He probably 
would have failed in reciting the rule in Shel- 
ley’s ease, but he excelled most law-school 
graduates in his knowledge of the machinery 
of the business, and his information concern- 
ing the complicated matters of title and trans- 
fer of mines was a growing asset. His study 
at night aided him in mastering the more ab- 
stract principles of law, and thanks to his 
adopting work instead of play as a means of 
forgetting his troubles, he was a well-rounded 
mining-lawyer before he ever had a client of 
his own. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


71 


It was during his second year in Cripple 
Creek that the first application was made to 
him for his services. One evening he was re- 
viewing “Greenleaf on Evidence” in his little 
room which Jack had dubbed “Carlton’s Ad- 
dition to Hudsonville, ” when he heard voices 
in the sitting-room and was advised that a lady 
wished to see him. The lady followed the an- 
nouncement into the room immediately. 

Her beaming countenance, through which 
shone the good humor of a race which always 
pokes adversity in the ribs with a smile, pre- 
pared him for the brogue which lent richness 
to her speech. 

“Sure an’ is this Master Carlton?” asked 
Mrs. Brady. 

“It is, madam,” replied Robert. 

“It’s nary a dollar I have, Mr. Carlton, and 
that may be partly the rason I’m lukin’ on the 
bargain-counter for a lawyer. Thinks I to 
myself, here’s a likely lad that I know is 
straight. I nade some law. He nades some 
practice. Maybe we can swap, I sez. Tf we 
git anythin’ out of it besides experience we 
kin divide the procades.” 

“That will suit me,” said Robert, welcom- 


72 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


ing a client, even though she came empty- 
handed. “Tell me your trouble.” 

“Well, it was this way: Mike Carter came 
to me an’ sez he, ‘Mrs. Brady,’ sez he, ‘Why 
don’t ye get into style,’ sez he. ‘Ivery man in 
town has a mine except yersilf,’ he sez, ‘and 
ye’re a better man than most of thim. Now,’ 
he sez, ‘ye ought at laste to have an interest 
in wan, so ye’d not have to work,’ sez he, sid- 
lin’ up to my lazy side, ye see. And thin he 
rattles on, ‘Now, I’ll tell ye a sacret if ye’ll 
swear not to brathe it to nobody,’ sez he. ‘I 
know where there’s an out-crop of a vein on 
Ravel Hill that’s a sure winner,’ sez he. ‘No- 
body’s onto it,’ sez he, ‘an’ if ye’ll grub-stake 
me I’ll do the assessment-work and give ye 
half, seein’ it’s you, Mrs. Brady,’ he says. 
Sure, I didn’t grab at the chanst of bein’ part- 
ners with Mike Carter, fer I allays knew he 
was as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, but he kept 
talkin’ and talkin’ until I consinted just to get 
rid of him. I fid the gossoon fer four months 
and run in dibt for the groceries he was atin’ 
and whin I ast him about the mine, he sez, ‘I 
niver was so fooled in me life,’ he sez. ‘I give 
up the claim for the divil a bit of ore was 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


73 


there in it,’ he sez. Och! if my Tim was livin’ 
he’d do some prospectin’ on that spalpeen’s 
face that wud show color widout pannin’. Now, 
I’m just after lamin’ that he’s advertised fer 
a patent on a Raven Hill claim thet he was 
workin’ while I was feedin’ him an’ he’s been 
workin’ it ever since while I’ve been breakin’ 
me back over the wash-tubs to pay for the 
groceries that ha then ate. Now, what kin 1 
do? I’m only a poor widdy. Mister Carlton, 
but can’t I take the law on him?” 

Robert deliberated a moment. 

“I am afraid that your contract was for an 
interest in land and is void under the statute 
of frauds, unless it was in writing,” he ans- 
wered slowly. 

Hudson sat there, his mouth closed tightly, 
imtil he heard Robert’s unfavorable comment. 

“Bob, I don’t believe you’ve got up to date 
with yer readin’. Them durned books was 
written before prospectors was so thick. I’m 
purty good authority on a grub-stake proposi- 
tion, because I’ve been on both sides of sich 
deals for twenty-five years, an’ I tell ye that a 
grub-stake agreement’ll stick ’thout bein’ in 
writin’. Many of ’em is made and stuck to 


74 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


where pens and ink is scarcer than claim-jmnp- 
ers in heaven.’' 

“Well, you may be right,” conceded Robert. 
“I will look up the question and let you know, 
Mrs. Brady. Part performance of the con- 
tract may take it out of the statute.” 

“Sure it was more than part performance on 
my side, Mr. Carlton. He had all a hungry 
man could ate for four months at my expinse.” 

“If that thing ye was readin’ to me awhile 
ago is true,” said Hudson, “ ‘There’s no 
wrong without a remedy,’ there must be some 
way of makin’ Carter produce.” 

“You are right. Jack. She ought to get 
half of that claim or recover the value of the 
provisions furnished him.” 

“I’d almost sooner get pay for the grub 
than be partner in a claim wid such a thief,” 
said Mrs. Brady. 

After looking up the bewildering array of 
decisions, Robert concluded she could recover, 
and brought an action before a justice of the 
peace for an accounting. An attorney by the 
name of Cook was employed by Carter, and 
.at Ills request Robert called at his office for 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


75 


the ostensible purpose of discussing a continu- 
ance of the case. 

Robert consented to the continuance and sug- 
gested a day for the trial. 

“That will be satisfactory to us,” said Cook. 
“I will draw up a stipulation, Mr. — he 
hesitated. “I do not recall your name.” 

“Carlton, Robert Carlton,” was the reply. 

“Just write it down so I will enter it cor- 
rectly in the stipulation,” suggested Cook, 
pushing a piece of blank paper toward Robert, 
who wrote his name thereon. The case was 
subsequently continued for several weeks, so 
that the slight incident was forgotten. 

Robert worked hard on the case, reading 
such text-books as were then extant on the 
subject, and massing together all of the decis- 
ions which seemed to bear on the point at issue. 
He sought to anticipate every move of the de- 
fence and to devise a check for each one. Seve- 
ral witnesses were subpoenaed to prove that 
the claim in question was located during the 
“grub-stake” contract, and that Mrs. Brady 
actually furnished provisions to Carter. It 
was Robert’s first case, and he made the mis- 
take of thinking that he had fully safe-guarded 


76 


BOB CAELTON, AMEKICAN 


his client by massing his forces at what ap- 
peared the weak points in the enemy’s defence. 
He had not provided against sapping and un- 
derground operations, and the defence took a 
turn that might well have surprised an older 
lawyer. 

Robert proved his case in every detail, and 
the sympathy of the jury was clearly with the 
blunt, honest Irishwoman, who told her story 
with a directness that went to their hearts. 

“We rest,” announced Robert. 

Mr. Carter was called to the stand. He 
swore that he had settled the claim by giving 
to Robert a check for one hundred dollars, the 
value of the provisions. 

“Have you that check with you, Mr. Car- 
ter?” asked his attorney as Robert’s eyes 
opened wider and wider with astonishment. 

“Yes, here it is.” 

The check was produced and made an ex- 
hibit in the case. 

Mr. Cook then asked Robert if he would ad- 
mit the genuineness of the cheek or go on the 
stand in rebuttal. Robert promptly entered 
the witness-box and was sworn. 

“Is that your signature on that paper?” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


77 


Cook asked, presenting the back of the check 
to Robert. 

Mrs. Brady and Hudson sat across the table 
and viewed the astounding scene in almost 
breathless suspense as Robert took the check, 
with a confident look. They expected an in- 
stant denial, but they saw him change color 
as he scrutinized it carefully and answered: 

“It is certainly like my writing.” 

“No quibbling. Do you admit or deny the 
signature ? ’ ’ 

“I think it is mine, but I have no recollec- 
tion of having written it.” 

“No, I suppose not,” sneered the attorney. 
“Please write your name on that piece of 
paper. No disguise now, or we will get it else- 
where,” said Cook, presenting a sheet of 
paper. 

Something in Cook’s action as he pushed the 
blank paper towards Robert vaguely recalled 
the similar incident in the attorney’s office a 
few weeks before, but his mind was too con- 
fused by the realization of the nature of the 
charge against him to permit him to act clearly 
and promptly. 

He mechanically wrote his name at the place 


,78 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


indicated and the signature was so nearly like 
the endorsement on the check that there was no 
room for doubting their common origin. 

“May I see the other side of that paper?” 
he asked, referring to the check. 

“You mean, may you see it again, aon’t 
you?” commented Cook. 

Robert examined it closely and then handed 
it to the justice. It was a check drawn by Car- 
ter for one hundred dollars, payable to the 
order of Robert Carlton, endorsed by him and 
stamped “Paid” by the bank. Under Robert’s 
signature appeared the name of Tom Dulin, 
who conducted one of the largest gambling- 
houses in Cripple Creek. 

“I do not remember writing my name on 
that check, and I certainly never received the 
money,” declared Robert. 

“The poor memory of the witness can prob- 
ably be accounted for by the other endorse- 
ment on the check. Honest men, when in pos- 
session of their faculties, don’t clear their 
checks through Tom Dulin. And he may not 
have received the money. Tom may have at- 
tended to that, too,” insinuated Cook, and 
turning to Robert, he asked: “Have you had 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


7a 


any other transaction with Mr. Carter in which 
he gave you a check?” 

“Mr. Carter never gave me a check in any 
transaction,” answered Robert. 

“We rest,” said Cook. “It is unnecessary 
to argue the case. I ask judgment for the de- 
fendant, your honor, with costs.” 

“Young man,” said the court, “it looks as 
though you were guilty of a crime. Someone 
ought to report this matter to the examiners 
in Denver and have it inquired into before you 
are admitted to practice in the regular courts 
of this State.” 

“Your honor, I never knowingly endorsed 
that check.” 

“Your manner is straightforward, and per- 
haps you did not know what you were doing 
when you did it, but, nevertheless, you are ac- 
countable for your action. Judgment will be 
rendered for — ” 

“If the court please, I ask to have the case 
dismissed, without prejudice, to another ac- 
tion,” interrupted Robert, recovering a little 
of his presence of mind. “This matter is not 
settled yet. The defence has gained a tem- 
porary advantage by trickery, the nature of 


80 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


which is not yet clear to me. But they have 
made a big mistake in choosing this method, 
for now the case is no longer Mrs. Brady’s. 
It is mine. Before, I only wanted to win a 
judgment. Now I am forced to secure a vin- 
dication.” 

“The case is dismissed without prejudice,” 
announced the justice, “and I would suggest 
that the would-be attorney for the plaintiff pay 
the costs. This country is full of half-baked 
lawyers, whose education is being completed 
at the expense of clients who are looking for 
cheap litigation. 

“I expect to pay the costs, your honor. May 
I see the check again?” Robert asked, turning 
to Mr. Cook. 

“I guess you’ve seen it enough. We are not 
taking any chances of having our evidence de- 
stroyed,” retorted Cook, putting the check in 
his pocket. 

Robert gathered up an armful of books and 
went back to the office. His first case had been 
thrown out of court and he had been denounced 
as a criminal. However, his face did not ex- 
press guilt, and Mr. Cook felt far more com- 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


81 


fortable over the outcome than did his client, 
Mike Carter. 

Mrs. Brady went home, half believing that 
Robert had received the money, and placing 
more confidence in the judicial harangue than 
in Hudson’s assurance that “Bob never got 
that money, and was never in Tom Dulin’s 
place in his life.” 

The outcome of the trial was a matter of 
nine days’ gossip about town, particularly 
among the members of the bar, part of whom 
were shocked by Robert’s dishonesty and part 
by what they termed his “coarse work.” Many 
of these regarded him as an embezzler and the 
rest spoke of him as a fool for accepting money 
in the shape of a check that required endorse- 
ment. It was humiliating for him to remain 
in Cripple Creek under these conditions, but 
retreat would mean confession, and Robert was 
not the kind to run away. 

An effort was made to have Robert dis- 
missed from Mr. Dow’s office, but Mr. Dow 
replied : 

“I believe there was a crooked lawyer in 
the Carter case, but it wasn’t Carlton.” 

He told Robert of a shady transaction or 


82 


BOB CAELTON, AMEBICAN 


two, in which Attorney Cook had been involved 
in the East, and this set him to thinking. Rob- 
ert’s first theory regarding the check was that 
Carter was the rascal, but Mr. Dow’s infor- 
mation put him on another track, and he tried 
to recall his previous meeting with Cook and 
the incidents connected therewith. No letters 
had been interchanged. How had Cook ob- 
tained Robert’s signature on the back of a 
check without Robert’s knowledge? Suddenly 
the whole scene in Cook’s office passed before 
him. That slip of paper, on which he had writ- 
ten his name, was a blank check which they had 
subsequently filled in. 

“Fool, fool! There are lots of things in 
the law business that are not taught in the 
books,” he muttered. 

He immediately went to see Tom Dulin and 
asked him if he remembered cashing a check 
for Carter. 

“Surest thing ye know. It was for a hun- 
dred plunks and payable to a feller named 
Carlton, but his name was on the back and it 
was Carter’s own check, and I knew he had 
money in the bank. Still I remember question- 
ing him pretty close about it.” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


83 


Robert wrote out a statement of the facts, 
to which Dulin readily made oath, for, as he 
said, “I may be a gambler, me bye, but I deal 
from the top, and I’ll see that I’m not used as 
a club agin ye.” 

Robert next investigated the mine which 
Carter had located and found that a good vein 
of ore had been opened and that an offer of 
fifty thousand dollars had been refused for the 
claim. 

A short time afterward he was admitted to 
the bar and the first case which he docketed in 
a court of record was a case in equity entitled 
Brady vs. Carter, to recover a half-interest in 
Carter’s mine by specific performance of the 
“grub-stake” contract. 

Attorney Cook left the city. The value of 
the mine justified Carter in employing several 
attorneys to defend the case. Three of these 
gentlemen called on Robert, at Mr. Dow’s office, 
and made a strong effort to obtain an advan- 
tageous settlement. They pooh-poohed the idea 
of there being any merit in Mrs. Brady’s con- 
tention. They misconstrued Robert’s brief 
replies and thought him almost persuaded. 
Thereupon, one of them suggested that Carter 


84 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


might be willing to give Mrs. Brady as much 
as it would cost to defend the case “merely 
because a law-suit always diminished the value 
of a mine on the market, not because your 
client has a ghost of a show.” 

Not observing any signs of acceptance on 
Robert’s part, another one of the trio said 
that he would advise Mr. Carter to pay two 
thousand dollars in a lump-sum, providing it 
was accepted immediately. Number three in- 
terposed and said it was clearly an attempt to 
blackmail Mr. Carter, and that he would advise 
him to give nothing. 

“You gentlemen had better get together. 
Mr. Carter will be confused by a multiplicity 
of counsel. Mrs. Brady has the advantage of 
having only one lawyer, and her lawyer has 
only one proposition: She owns one-half of 
the Carter mine and by the eternal, she is go- 
ing to get it!” 

“You are talking like a school-boy. Bo you 
mean to say that you will not settle for less 
than half of that mine?” asked one of the at- 
torneys. 

“Not for a shovelful of dirt less. I can 
prove the contract, I can establish its validity. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


85 


I can show that Mrs. Brady performed her 
half of it. What is more, gentlemen, I have my 
own reputation to re-establish in this commun- 
ity, and I will prove Cook and Carter to be a 
pair of scoundrels. If you gentlemen propose 
to stay by your client to the finish, you had 
better commence the study of criminal law, be- 
cause there is where this case will terminate 
if once it is started. Cook has skipped, but 
Carter has too much at stake to leave the coun- 
try. I have faith in the honesty of the court 
and the righteousness of my cause. One-half 
of that mine is Mrs. Brady’s, and I propose to 
get it for her. ’ ’ 

“I admire your nerve, but don’t think much 
of your judgment,” said one, as they arose to 
go. 

“It will take three years to take the case 
through the courts. I suppose you wouldn’t 
take off any discount for cash,” sarcastically 
remarked another, as they started for the door. 

“No gentlemen, there will be no discount 
nor concession made in this case. Mrs. Brady 
has been washing clothes for a good many 
years and she can stand it three years longer. 
By that time, if this case is ever started, your 


86 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


client will have just about served his term in 
the penitentiary 

Hudson had been an observant spectator of 
this scene, sitting in an obscure corner of the 
room, pretending to read. As the three law- 
yers closed the door he threw his old hat to the 
ceiling. 

“Bully, boy,” he said, slapping Robert on 
the back. “Blamed if Grant himself could beat 
ye demandin’ unconditional surrender.” 

Three very earnest lawyers at once went 
into executive session behind locked doors and 
drawn blinds. The result of their conference 
was that while conceding the ultimate outcome 
to be defeat for Carter and possibly a prison 
sentence, they concluded they would have noth- 
ing to gain and much to lose by a compromise. 
Besides, no compromise was possible with such 
a determined foe. Carter, however, learned 
of Dulin’s probable testimony and became 
panic-stricken. He positively refused to go on 
with the case and threatened to go himself to 
Robert’s office and plead for a settlement. Fi- 
nally the matter was adjusted by Carter deed- 
ing to Mrs. Brady a half-interest in the mine 
and paying all of the court costs. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


87 


“And now, me bye,” she said on one occa- 
sion of her next call on Robert, “how will ye 
have yonr share!” 

“I have my share, Mrs. Brady,” he replied. 
“The case in the justice court was yours, and 
I lost it. The case in the upper court was 
mine. I was suing to recover my good name, 
my standing in the community, my place be- 
fore my fellow-members of the bar and I won 
it and in winning it I won my reward. My 
carelessness almost cost you a competence. 
Through you I have learned a lesson that will 
pay me dividends for the rest of my life. You 
owe me nothing.” 


88 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER VI 

A CHANGE OF SCENE 

Shortly after Robert left Ashland, Mr. Hil- 
liard sold liis farm and moved with his family 
to Chicago, where he bought a residence on the 
north shore. He put a large part of his money 
into stocks and fitted up a comfortable office 
for himself on La Salle street, convenient to 
that of his broker. Here he received his mail, 
dictated his correspondence and kept in touch 
with the markets. Another purpose in mov- 
ing to the city was to get Aleen into society, 
in order that she might the sooner forget 
Robert. 

Through the instrumentality of George Den- 
ton, Mr. Hilliard’s broker, Aleen was soon in- 
troduced into the best circles, and her charm 
of manner, her buoyant spirits and her honest 
straightforwardness soon made her the center 
of a select group. She was grateful to Mr. 
Denton for his good offices, and he became de- 
voted to her. Mr. Hilliard saw in Denton all 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


89 


tlie attributes of a desirable son-in-raw — edu- 
cation, money, good temper and sufficient 
knowledge of the world to make him a fit pro- 
tector for Aleen. Denton was not a bad fel- 
low, as stock-brokers go, and his duplicity in 
the early stages of the courtship went to no 
greater lengths than falling down horribly on 
his game of golf when Mr. Hilliard was his 
opponent. 

“This reminds me of happy days down 
on the farm,” said Aleen one day as she and 
Denton were galloping down the equestrian 
path in Lincoln Park. 

“Yes, but the farm would never suit you 
now,” he said. 

“Why not?” she asked. 

“Because you have changed. You could no 
more slip back into the life outgrown than the 
flower could return to the bud.” 

“Why, Mr. Denton, you are wasted on La 
Salle street. I did not suppose such metaphors 
flourished in the atmosphere of the ticker — ” 

“But do you fancy you could be happy down 
there, after tasting the joys of matinees, balls 
and social adoration?” 


90 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“Yes, if the same people were there whom I 
once knew.” 

“How about your farmer-boy friend who 
took your punishment for you? Would you 
like to have him drop in on you at your Ger- 
man to-night?” 

“More than anyone on earth,” she said, 
with an earnestness that made Denton regret 
his choice of a subject. 

“Well, I am surprised, but it is not more 
than one would expect from your loyal nature. 
He must have been a good sort. Were his 
parents well-to-do?” 

“No, they were poor tenants of father’s. 
He worked about the neighborhood for anj'^- 
one who needed help and was the most noble, 
manly, self-sacrificing person that I ever knew. 
I am under eternal obligations to him. As a 
school-girl I was the most selfish child in the 
world. I am no saint, now — ” 

Denton raised his hand in protest. 

“But I am a better woman for having known 
him and for keeping him in my memory. His 
example has made me stronger than all of the 
sermons I ever heard preached,” she declared. 

Denton’s face colored as he saw his own 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


91 


stock going down. Then he smiled to think 
of his superior advantages, and, manlike, pro- 
ceeded along the only lines needed to convert 
his absent rival into a halo-crowned martyr. 

“Just imagine yourself the wife of such a 
man. Picture him coming home to dinner — 
pardon me, supper — ^with sunburned face and 
hair uncut since the last time the circus was 
in town, his hands calloused, his boots — possi- 
bly he would not have boots. Do they insist on 
boots in the country?” 

“I remember him once without them, Mr. 
Denton. He had left them in the Donohue bog 
on the occasion when he saved me from the 
mire. I don’t believe a North Shore knight, 
booted and spurred for the ani-seed hunt, ever 
looked nobler in my sight.” 

‘ ‘ Pardon me, if I have otf ended you, but the 
thought of such an alliance seems absurd to 
me.” 

“Then why entertain it, Mr. Denton? The 
whole picture is of your own creation. I do 
not expect to marry him. He has relieved me 
of that temptation by fleeing from my wiles. 
But your picture does not make him offensive 
to me. You can only caricature his outlines — 


92 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


in fact, only the outlines of his clothing. Under 
that suit of denim is a big heart beating in the 
breast of a giant and behind that sun-burned 
face there is a soul that makes him a king 
among men. He is a great man. Externals 
cannot mar him any more than they could make 
him nobler in my eyes.” 

Oh, if Robert could have heard her then, 
how it would have nerved him in the struggle 
still before him. 

“I surely envy him,” Denton said, seriously, 
“for I do not believe that any ordinary man 
could move you to such praise.” 

Denton extricated himself as gracefully as 
he could from the hole which he had dug and 
changed the conversation as they neared her 
home. He had certainly displayed bad tactics 
in the selection of a target for his wit. 

Aleen played billiards and golf or went rid- 
ing with Denton frequently during the sum- 
mer and was seen with him often at the theater 
or at house-parties during the winter. It was 
evident that she preferred his society to that 
of other men, and their engagement was gen- 
erally rumored. 

Early in the spring, however, something hap- 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


93 


pened which interrupted Aleen’s career in Chi- 
cago for awhile. 

Mrs. Hilliard’s brother, Joseph Law, with 
his family, had recently moved from Denver 
to Cripple Creek. His family consisted of a 
wife and son, Donald, a young man about a 
year older than Aleen. Mrs. Law wrote of 
the joy of living in this big overgrown mining 
camp and invited Aleen to come and make 
them a visit, promising her a round of treats, 
such as the gallant young men of the West 
know how to shower on eastern visitors. A 
true westerner will go on short rations all win- 
ter, happy in the consciousness that “he has 
made things hum” for some fair visitor during 
her summer vacation. 

These attractions had little charm for Aleen, 
for whom the novelty of city life had not lost 
its lure. She waved them aside with the 
excuse that she was having too much pleasure 
in Chicago, until one day she received a letter 
from a girl-friend in Ashland stating that Mr. 
Carlton had heard from Boh, and that he was 
in Cripple Creek and prospering. Before 
night, Aleen announced to her mother that she 
would like to visit Uncle Joseph. 


94 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“But, my dear, you have so many things 
planned,” expostulated her mother. 

“I have so many things planned that the 
mere thought of them is fatiguing. If I stay 
here and try to do them, I am afraid I will not 
last through the summer. Father promised 
me a trip to Europe this spring. Let me go 
West instead and visit Uncle Joe,” said Aleen. 

“But he is living in a mining-camp.” 

“Yes, I know. That’s the reason I want to 
visit him. It will be different. I am tired of 
the city and want to see a little out-door life. 
What is the name of Uncle Joe’s camp? I’ve 
forgotten. ’ ’ 

“Cripple Creek, a regular boom mining 
town, stuck up in the mountains, uncouth and 
uncivilized. You would not like it.” 

“Oh, I am sure I would. I am tired of con- 
ventionalities, of always saying the right thing 
and thinking the wrong one.” 

“You ought not to go out there alone,” 
sighed the mother. Aleen recognized the bugle- 
call sounding “retreat,” and followed up her 
advantage. 

She soon had won the consent of both 
parents, and arrangements were made for the 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


95 


trip. She packed one good-sized trunk ■with 
serviceable clothing and shoes for mountain 
climbing, but, being a true daughter of Eve, 
did not overlook the probable necessity for a 
party-gown or two. 

A week later Aleen entered the big gold 
camp. As she neared Victor, on the Florence 
and Cripple Creek railroad, the mountains 
formed a magnificent view. To one reared on 
the flat prairies of Illinois, the sight was over- 
whelming. Immediately ahead of her could 
be seen Battle Mountain, its scarred sides 
pitted with prospecting holes until it resembled 
a huge prairie-dog village. Prom the seem- 
ingly inexhaustible core of this mountain, mil- 
lions in gold would be poured through the vents 
made by the Independence, Portland, Strong, 
Gold Coin, Ajax and other rich mines. Farth- 
er north Bull Hill was in view, with the town 
of Altman, two miles distant, cro'wning its sum- 
mit. At other points on this hill, clouds of 
smoke were rising from huge stacks, showing 
operations for miles in every direction. 

From Victor, Aleen took the stage for Crip- 
ple Creek, a three-mile drive around the moun- 
tain. On the way, the stage passed Raven Hill, 


96 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


a storehouse of gold at that time undiscovered. 
Most of this section was giving the lie to 
learned geologists, who declared it to be an 
impossibility to find gold on the Cripple Creek, 
side of Pike’s Peak. Across the gulch was 
Beacon Hill, from which the rich El Paso was 
to take its millions. 

The stage whirled around curves in a man- 
ner to make Aleen gasp, but the confidence of 
the driver reassured her. He longed to show 
the “purty gal” from the East what good driv- 
ing was and added a few fancy touches to a 
ride that would have been wild enough under 
any circumstances. 

Once as they whirled within a yard of the 
edge of a precipice, Aleen, who insisted on 
sharing the driver’s seat, gasped out: 

“Oh, what a dreadful place. Do people fall 
over there often?” 

“No’m. Only once,” chuckled the driver, 
elated at the opportunity to spring his old and 
invariable joke on that subject. 

Beyond all of these mountains, and dwarfing 
them into hills, rises Pike’s Peak, dominating 
the scene on every side. The timber-line forms 
a dark rim around its massive dome and above 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


97 


this rim rises the dull red sandstone of Colo- 
rado, seamed with ravines full of snow. This 
snow in melting supplies the ice-cold torrents 
that rush down the mountain to Manitou and 
Colorado Springs on one side of the Peak and 
the Cripple Creek district on the other. 

“Well, Aleen, we are glad to see you,” was 
her aunt’s greeting. “We had about made up 
our minds that Chicago had too many attrac- 
tions for a young lady of your age.” 

“No, auntie, I was dying to see all of you 
and to get out where things are really big. 
Why, if a sky-scraper were to fall into one of 
those canons I’ve seen to-day, it would not 
make a splash. ’ ’ 

“You haven’t changed a bit in five years, 
except that you are better looking,” said 
Cousin Donald. 

“Now, Donald, don’t start that,” said Uncle 
Joe, laughing. “We can beat the East on 
scenery, but our attempts at compliments will 
be rather weak after what Aleen has had 
handed to her in the last few years.” 

Aleen was disappointed at not having 
changed more in her appearance. She did not 
want Robert to know of her presence in Cripple 


98 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


Creek. She did not propose to have him think 
for a minute that she had come several thou- 
sand miles to see him. She was anxious to 
know if he were really here, but she would not 
ask, not for worlds. At dinner she obtained 
the desired information. 

“I have heard of the jolly times they have 
in the mountains,” ventured Aleen. 

“Yes, we have a hop occasionally.” 

“I suppose you have a girl and can’t take 
me.” 

“Well, no, my last girl quit me without giv- 
ing notice, and I have not filled the vacancy, 
so you will come in handy. I only count on 
you for about one party. After I’ve swung 
you around the room once Pa will have to 
come out on the porch and shoo the boys off 
so Ma can open the screen-door. The club has 
a masquerade Friday night and I shall be very 
pleased if you will go with me.” 

“How splendid! Of course I will go. Your 
boys will be safe from my blighting charms for 
that evening at least. By the way, a boy came 
out here some years ago from Joliet. I think 
his name was Carlton. Did you ever hear of 
himt” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


99 


“Yes, I know Mm. He lias just been ad- 
mitted to the bar and won his first case, a 
grub-stake fight between some Irish. I can 
introduce you to him.” 

“I do not care especially to meet him,” she 
said, indifferently. 

“Well, he will not be in the porch brigade. 
Girls do not interest him much, although he is 
a fine dancer.” 

“It is queer that he dances well and yet does 
not care for girls.” 

“Yes, it is queer. Maybe he left his heart in 
Illinois when he came to Colorado,” said Don- 
ald. 

Aleen tried to look unconcerned, but if Don- 
ald had been a close observer, he would have 
noticed her more than ordinary interest. 

“Perhaps he knows more about dancing than 
law,” Aleen ventured. 

“No, I am told that he is a bright young 
lawyer. He stood at the head of the crowd that 
took the bar examination with him.” 

“Well, good for Illinois,” was Aleen ’s only 
comment. 

Had Robert seen the smile that was on 
Aleen 's face when she went to her room that 


100 BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


night he would have known that mischief was 
brewing, but it was mischief which would not 
have alarmed him a great deal. 

“I will make him dance with me,” she de- 
clared. “How can I pick him out? He is 
taller than most men, but they grow big ones 
in the mountains. He used to have a habit of 
holding his thumb out straight when he was 
lost in thought. I think I will know his danc- 
ing and I know that I will recognize that thumb. 
What a lark!” she thought laughing in antici- 
pation of the dance. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 101 


CHAPTER VII 

BEHIND A MASK 

When Aleen and Donald arrived at the mas- 
querade they found about one hundred grotes- 
quely-garbed people flitting about the hall, 
whispering, giggling and administering slaps 
when investigations became too intimate, com- 
pletely giving the lie to the charge that Ameri- 
cans take their fun seriously. Most of the 
costumes were home-made, and in many cases 
it would have been easier to guess the identity 
of the wearer than the character he meant to 
portray. However, enjoyment is a matter of 
heart rather than art, and no hal masque at 
Versailles ever gave half the pleasure to its 
participants as did this dance in the Rocky 
Mountains. 

Aleen ’s mind was riveted on one purpose, 
and that was to identify Robert while avoiding 
detection herself. She scrutinized every tall 
man in the grand march, but none seemed to 
fill her mind’s ideal. She gave a sigh of dis- 


102 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


appointment which changed to a half-sob as a 
big broad-shouldered man emerged from the 
dressing-room and offered his arm to a lady in 
white. The new couple joined in the march 
without exciting anyone’s attention except that 
of Aleen. One glance at his walk convinced 
her, and she felt a pang of unreasoning jeal- 
ousy to see him bending politely over his com- 
panion. 

“I do not care what Donald says about Rob- 
ert’s not caring for girls. He is naturally kind- 
hearted and they won’t let him get away,” she 
thought, with a penetration beyond her years. 

The march ended in a waltz, and his dancing 
removed the last lingering doubt. 

“Is that the latest thing in dancing in Chi- 
cago, Aleen?” remonstrated Donald. “Are 
you taught to hold your partner like he was 
a cannon-fire-cracker, liable to explode at any 
moment! You need not be so worried. Who- 
ever he is won’t leave right away.” 

Aleen made no response, but when the music 
stopped she drew her partner over and took a 
chair next to the man who she was sure was 
Bob. He at first gave her only a casual glance, 
but when he turned his head for another and 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 103 


longer look, her heart almost stopped beating. 

She was certainly worthy of that longer look 
even from a man who “did not care for girls.” 
Aleen had shown great judgment in selecting 
her dress for the first party. It was of a kind 
to attract male admirers without giving female 
rivals the slightest basis for criticism. She 
had wisely left at home her elaborate ‘ ‘ coming- 
out” gowns, for, as her father suggested, 
“They don’t ‘come out’ so far from their cos- 
tumes in the mountains.” Her dress for the 
masquerade was of soft, white material, which 
covered, without concealing, her plump arms 
and round, white throat. It suggested rather 
than revealed her maiden charms, and was mod- 
est, without being prudish. A corsage bouquet 
of red roses was the only spot of color in her 
costume, and her abundant hair was concealed 
under a large, white cap. If a lock of it had 
strayed from its confines the man next to her 
could have matched it with the strand stolen 
so many years before in the old school-house. 
A simple white mask covered her face and kept 
him from knowing that the girl of all girls was 
sitting beside him. She had difficulty in con- 
trolling her breathing, while he only thought 


104 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


that she was a girl who had foolishly danced 
too hard. Several times their eyes met, but 
he was too loyal to his ideal to inspect very 
closely the reality before him. 

A schottische was announced, and Aleen 
kept her face turned partly in Robert’s direc- 
tion, hoping that he would ask her to dance. 
In this she was disappointed, for he crossed the 
room to where a plain, pink cambric domino 
was seated and offered his arm. Aleen was 
glad that a mask hid her chagrin. She was not 
left in solitude long, but was soon borne away 
by a cavalier whose dancing was complicated 
by the presence of a Knights Templar sword 
that insisted in trying to “play horse.’’ When 
the music stopped, she found herself on the 
opposite side of the room from Robert, and 
mentally declared that she was through chasing 
him around. 

The next dance was the lancers, and by clever 
but not conspicuous manoeuvering, she took a 
place in the same set with him, she being at the 
side and he at the head. As they swung into 
the “grand right and left” she was angry at 
her left hand for clinging so scandalously to 
his big palm, but if he noticed it at all it only 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 105 


served to bind him more closely to the Aleen 
of his dreams. When the quadrille was fin- 
ished she led her partner after Robert and 
again took the vacant chair next to him. Now 
Robert was no ascetic. He had good, red 
blood in his veins, and he knew that this was 
the same girl who had sat by him before. He 
gave her such a searching look that she ner- 
vously adjusted her mask more closely to her 
face. Then she turned toward him the palm 
of her left hand and with her right forefinger 
she outlined the initials, “R. C.,” and pointed 
to him. She did not dare use the deaf-and- 
dumb alphabet of their younger days, for he 
would have recognized that at once. 

With his usual truthfulness, he refused to 
deny his identity, but continued to examine her 
closely. He said to himself, “Aleen must have 
grown into such a looking woman by this time. 
That hand and arm are pretty enough to be 
hers, and that little foot — ” His eyes fol- 
lowed his thoughts to where a dainty, white 
slipper protruded. Somewhat alarmed by this 
evident inventory of her charms, she drew in 
her foot, fumbled again with her mask and play- 
fully shook a red rose in his face to scatter the 


106 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


fire which she had been so anxious to draw. 
He took her fan to see if it would give him any 
clue to her identity. She permitted him to re- 
tain it, in the hope of holding him for the next 
dance. Divining the purpose for which he was 
scrutinizing the fan, she seized one side of it 
and feigned to help him. Thus, with heads 
close together, they carefully examined both 
sides of it. Then he sat gazing at the floor 
for a few moments and thought, “It cannot be 
Aleen, and I must not be lured from her for an 
instant, even in thought.” She noticed his 
thumb sticking out rigidly, but she no longer 
needed this bit of corroboration. 

The orchestra struck up “The Blue Danube,” 
the waltz to which they had danced so often in 
the old schoolhouse. Robert arose, and bow- 
ing, offered her his arm. With a satisfied 
smile under her mask, she placed herself in his 
arms and closed her eyes as they floated away 
on clouds of bliss His dance was unmistak- 
able. Not one of the dancing-school graduates 
who had been her partner in Chicago was ever 
so exactly adjusted to her step. She and Rob- 
ert were not two dancers. They were one. They 
were dancing the real waltz, the waltz which 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 107 


has now been replaced by a “slang” creation 
in which all grace and rhythm are lost. Robert 
sighed as he thought of other days, but Aleen 
attributed his emotion to the transient effect of 
the dance, and did not appreciate the depth of 
the compliment. 

Neither spoke a word. Their feet followed 
the music without guidance or mental effort. 
Dancing was to them no more a matter of voli- 
tion than was breathing. So long as the music 
continued they would glide through the maze of 
dancers while their minds wandered, his to the 
past, hers to the future. 

Neither wished to break the spell. Robert 
went over in his mind the list of all the girls in 
town whom he knew and some whom he did not 
know, in his effort to place her. He tried to 
think that it might be Aleen, but dismissed the 
supposition as absurd. Besides, he remembered 
his promise to Mr. Hilliard, and preferred to 
think it someone else. Had her mask fallen off 
his honor would have had a severe test. 

The dance ended too soon for both of them. 
She reluctantly left him to dance with Donald, 
and several numbers followed in which each 
watched the other closely. 


108 BOB CAELTON. AMEEICAN 


Ladies’ choice was announced, and Aleen 
tripped over to him and bowed low. He glowed 
with delight as he took her arm for another 
waltz. For a moment they stood with his arm 
around her waist as she adjusted her cap. She 
again noticed that he was watching her closely 
and had a little jealous fear that he took her 
for someone else. 

Once more they glided off into the measures 
of the waltz, she and the man that she had 
come so far to see. His heart seemed to say 
to him, “This must be Aleen,” but his head re- 
sponded, “Absurd.” 

The meditations of both were interrupted by 
the music stopping. The men clamored for an 
encore. Aleen pulled a rose from her corsage 
and pinned it to his coat. She could feel his 
heart throbbing under her hand and she longed 
to say, “It is Aleen, Bob,” but pride whispered 
that he would know her reasons for being there, 
and sealed her lips. 

Suddenly someone announced: “All un- 
mask!” No one was admitted to the dressing- 
room with a mask on, and the evening had gone 
so quickly that Aleen was taken by surprise. 
Observing Donald between them and the door. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 109 


she rushed over to him. “Don, I am not feel- 
ing well. I cannot dance any more. I will 
wait for you in the dressing-room. Please take 
me home,” she said, in an undertone. 

Then seeing Robert standing where she had 
left him, mask in hand and staring after her, 
she turned her back to him, removed her mask 
and went straight to the dressing-room. 

Would Donald believe in her suddenly 
trumped-up excuse? She was determined that 
he should not know that she came from Chicago 
to Cripple Creek in pursuit of a man. Then 
she added a touch of realism by pulling a but- 
ton from one of her dancing-slippers. She 
peeped through the door for one more look at 
Robert. Yes, it was he, unchanged, except that 
he had the confident look of a man who has 
tested his strength and believes in himself. 

“See, I broke the button off my slipper,” she 
explained to Donald, when he came to the door. 

“Why didn’t you stick to your first yarn. It 
wasn’t a bad one. I will take a chance on the 
slipper coming off, Cinderella, if you will give 
me another dance. Besides, the prince may 
find it and restore it to you.” 

“I will if I may put my mask on again.” 


110 BOB CAELTON, AMEBICAN 


‘ ‘ That would not stay on as long as the slip- 
per in this mob,” said Donald, as he went for 
his coat. 

Robert looked for the girl in white all the 
rest of the evening, but she had vanished like 
a dream. 

After going to bed that night, Aleen experi- 
enced a reaction. Her sober second thought 
kept propounding unanswerable questions. 
“What would Robert think of me if he knew 
I followed him? Would he not draw his own 
conclusions if he learned of my presence here ? 
He must never know it.” 

What could she do? Should she take the first 
train home? He had already forgotten her. 
Besides, with his foolish ideas of right and 
wrong, would he not refuse to see her, just as 
he did when he left Ashland, without saying 
good-bye? And so torn between the hope of 
being found out and the fear of the results of 
discovery, she sank into a troubled sleep, with 
the old query running through her young head : 
“Will things ever come right this side of 
heaven?” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 111 


CHAPTER Vni 

EOBEBT IN A NEW BOLE 

“There is a row on at the Methodist Church, 
One of their members went to the masquerade, 
and they are going to expel her,” remarked 
Donald, a few days after the dance. 

“I thought you were above such things in the 
mountains. Who is she?” asked Aleen. 

“She’s Jack Hudson’s daughter, Lizzie. Bob 
Carlton lives at their house, and took her to 
the hop.” 

“I wonder if it is her first offence,” mur- 
mured Aleen, trying to conceal her great inter- 
est in the matter. 

“I never saw her at a dance before, but from 
the way she gets aroimd, Bob must be giving 
her private lessons.” 

“Did you say they had expelled her?” Aleen 
inquired, not wishing to drop the matter. 

“Not yet. The hearing is to-night, but it is 
practically all over but the weeping. The facts 
are admitted, and several Methodists have been 


112 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


getting gay lately. It looks as if Lizzie was 
slated for the scape-goat.” 

Aleen knew Robert well enough to be sure 
that he would never desert Miss Hudson, after 
leading her into trouble. Hence she went to 
the Methodist Church that evening and sat 
through the first part, awaiting the “big show,” 
which was to come afterward. She selected a 
seat in the darkest corner of the room, behind 
some expectant ladies, wearing large hats. 
Shortly after, Robert walked in and was seated 
near the middle of the church. 

Finally, the regular services were ended by 
singing “The Ninety and Nine,” and the min- 
ister announced that there was a matter of bus- 
ness to be attended to. He was grieved to say 
that one of their members, a ewe-lamb of the 
flock, had violated the rules by going to a dance. 
The matter had been regularly called to the at- 
tention of the deacons and hence could not be 
overlooked. He asked for an expression from 
those present. 

One hard-faced old deacon arose and moved 
that Elizabeth Hudson be expelled from the 
church and her name be erased from the rolls. 
The motion was seconded, and one or two spoke 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 113 


in favor of it. Apparently no one had sufficient 
courage to suggest any mitigating circum- 
stances, 

“Are there any further remarks, or are you 
ready for the question! ” asked the minister. 

Several voices mechanically murmured, 
‘ ‘ Question, ’ ’ when Robert arose. 

“Mr. Chairman,” he said, in a clear, ringing 
voice, “I am not a member of this church, but 
I come here as Miss Hudson’s ‘next friend.’ 
The human law permits that fiction, and I pre- 
sume that the interpreters of the divine law 
will be equally generous to an accused person. 
May I say a few words ? ’ ’ 

His tone and manner were so determined and 
at the same time so respectful that the chair- 
man nodded an affirmative. 

Robert proceeded : ‘ ‘ My name is Carlton. If 
there was a sin committed in going to that 
dance, I am the sinner, for I not only took Miss 
Hudson there, but I taught her to dance under 
her own father’s roof. I was ignorant of your 
rules on the subject, or I would not have done 
so. Therefore, I am wholly responsible for 
teaching her how to dance and for taking her 
to the party.” 


114 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


Aleen felt her ears burn with jealousy at the 
earnestness of Eobert’s defence. 

“I will not argue the question of whether or 
not dancing is a sin. It originated as a form 
of worship and a token of joyful gratitude to 
God. Like other things, pure in their origin, it 
has been debased. I propose to base my de- 
fence on the Bible, for I know that your church 
is founded thereon. You aim to do right. Your 
purpose is to build up, not to destroy. The 
hand that you extend is a helping, not a smiting 
one. Did it ever occur to you that this church 
was built for sinners, and I suspect that if your 
building-fund was scrutinized it would show 
that it was largely built by sinners. The dona- 
tions were for the purpose of building a refuge 
for the lost, not a habitation for the saved, 
solely. Here you are pledged to teach and prac- 
tice the religion of Christ and the Bible. This 
property is a trust. It is in the hands of your 
trustees for a specific purpose. Part of your 
donors still worship here, some of them have 
left the city; a few have taken their letters to 
another church ; others are sleeping in the little 
cemetery and have had their cases passed upon 
by another tribunal. Only a small proportion 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 115 


of the money placed thus in trust is represented 
at this meeting. I know that the trust is a per- 
petual one, but I am viewing the facts from a 
moral standpoint. You are pledged to main- 
tain this church according to the teachings of 
Jesus. Are you doing it, in thrusting this pure 
child from your communion-table at her first 
offence? 

“I will not insult your intelligence by quoting 
authorities for the statement that the Saviour 
lived and died for sinners. That is no glitter- 
ing generality. When the woman was brought 
before him, charged with a wicked crime, not 
even to be mentioned in the presence of this 
young girl, did He recommend excommunica- 
tion? No, He applied the test which, if applied 
in all similar eases, would make church trials 
exceedingly rare. 

“You closed your regular service to-night by 
singing a hymn which you propose to reverse in 
spirit if you pass this motion. Did Jesus sur- 
vey the ninety and nine who safely lay in the 
shelter of the folds and say, ‘There is one 
sheep that has strayed from the path. She was 
a young lamb, inclined to be playful. She went 
out of her way the other day to nibble a flower 


116 BOB CABLTON, AMEEICAN 


that bloomed close to a precipice. In conse- 
quence, she is not with us to-night. I might be 
able to find her, to bind up her bruises, to lead 
her gently back among us, but if I did, I know 
several old sheep in the flock that might think 
they could stay out nights. Therefore, I will 
entertain a motion that she be left on the moun- 
tain, cold and bare. ’ 

“Pardon the seeming irreverence, my friends. 
It is done with a deeply reverent purpose. In 
no clearer way can I show you what you are 
proposing to do than by paraphrasing as I have 
from the lines you have just sung. 

“I am fortunate in addressing a congrega- 
tion which lives ‘out on the mountains.’ Many 
of you have daughters and guard them with 
jealous care. Consider the general reputation 
of this young lady and the effect an adverse 
verdict will have on her entire future. Weigh 
carefully the light nature of her offence. Com- 
pare it with your own secret short-comings and 
let ‘him who is without sin among you, cast the 
first stone.’ 

“I am taking too much of your time and pos- 
sibly prejudicing you against Miss Hudson by 
my verbosity, but I am very much in earnest 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 117 


in asking that you weigh carefully the nature 
of the act charged and the effect of your de- 
cision on the entire life of this young girl. Lay 
aside all desire to vindicate a human law and 
vote as you would vote were you in the pres- 
ence of the Great Shepherd of us all. I thank 
you for your courtesy in granting me the privi- 
lege of addressing you.” 

Robert sat down. All present were deeply 
impressed by what he had said. The pastor 
seemed greatly agitated, and paid strict atten- 
tion to every word. 

“As many as are in favor of the motion to 
expel Miss Hudson will say ‘Aye.’ ” 

One roaring “Aye” from the maker of the 
motion utterly failed to stampede the congre- 
gation. 

“Those opposed, ‘No.’ ” 

A chorus of “Noes” made it unnecessary to 
announce the result. Robert and Elizabeth 
became each the center of a congratulatory 
group, while Aleen tip-toed her way out of the 
edifice and hurried home. 

“I wonder if he would do that much for her 
if he did not love her?” sighed her foolish little 
heart. 


118 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER IX 

A KNOCK-DOWN AEGtTMENT 

The miners’ union in the Cripple Creek dis- 
trict was agitating the question of making an 
eight-hour shift for three dollars, the amount 
paid by most of the mines for nine hours’ 
work. The owners refused the demand, and 
the union declared a strike in January, 1894. 
Superintendent Locke, of the Isabella Com- 
pany, was one of the first men singled out by 
the strikers as objectionable, and the sheriff 
sent two deputies to protect him from violence. 

During the latter part of January about two 
hundred miners went to the mine, disarmed the 
deputies, made each one promise not to make 
any complaint, started them on the road to 
Colorado Springs with an armed escort and 
closed down the mine. Shortly after this, a 
large delegation from the union visited most of 
the large mines and ordered up all the men 
who were working more than eight hours a 
day. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 119 


A few of the mines re-opened on an eight- 
hour schedule, and this gave encouragement to 
the union. Warrants were sworn out in Colo- 
rado Springs for several labor leaders, but the 
deputies who attempted to serve them were 
roughly handled and prevented from making 
arrests. On petition of the sheriff. Governor 
“Bloody Bridles” Waite sent five companies 
of militia to the district. Adjutant-General 
Parsney, who was in sympathy with the strik- 
ers, accompanied the soldiers and reported to 
the governor that they were not needed. The 
governor feigned great anger, declared he had 
been imposed upon by the sheriff and mine- 
owners and ordered the troops back home. This 
was the commencement of the biggest local re- 
bellion that up to that time had ever been 
known in the West. It was called the Bull 
Hill war. Encouraged by the attitude of the 
governor and his adjutant-general, the strik- 
ers took possession of the mines, entrenched 
themselves, searched buildings, stopped the 
trains coming into Victor and kept armed pick- 
ets around the camp, admitting only those who 
could give the password. Men were taken and 
held on Bull Hill as prisoners; arrests by the 


120 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


sheriff and his deputies were prevented; in 
short, all local law was suspended and anarchy 
prevailed for several months. 

During the early part of the strike a meet- 
ing was called at a hall in Anaconda, a mile 
from Cripple Creek. Some of the men were 
opposed to acts of outlawry, such as taking 
possession of the mines. Kobert and Hudson 
went to the meeting and were in sympathy 
with the conservative element, which they soon 
learned formed a small minority of those pres- 
ent. Several fiery speeches were made, en- 
dorsing the action of the union in closing the 
mines and compelling the men who were not 
members of the union to quit work. These 
speakers were loudly applauded. 

“Who will speak next?” asked the chairman. 
“This seems to be a one-sided proposition. Is 
there no one in the house agin it?” 

Hudson noticed that Robert was stirring tm- 
easily in his seat. He leaned over and whis- 
pered : 

“Better keep your notions bottled up in this 
crowd. It ain’t safe.” 

That caution was the one thing needed to 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 121 


arouse Robert. He rose and stepped into tbe 
aisle, where he could face them. 

He opened his remarks by reminding them 
of the invitation for views on both sides of the 
question, thereby explaining his presence at 
the meeting and his action in addressing them. 
He reviewed briefly and impartially the cause 
of the strike, the position taken by the union, 
and the refusal of most of the mine-owners to 
comply with the demands. He approved of 
labor organizations for legitimate purposes and 
added : 

“Your action in taking forcible possession 
of mines belonging to others and holding them 
is wrong. No number of wrongs can ever make 
a right. You do not condemn capital for com- 
bining but for abusing the power given to it 
by combination. I assume that you have no 
objection to your employers reaping the legi- 
timate results of combination, so long as they 
share with the public and their employees those 
results. You do not object to the economies 
effected by consolidation so long as those econo- 
mies are not used as a club to batter down dis- 
united and weaker competition. When a so- 
called ‘trust’ turns its batteries on an individ- 


122 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


ual manufacturer and tries to drive him into 
its combination or to crush him, you join in the 
universal outcry against such tyranny. And 
yet that is just the method employed by your 
union against an outsider.” (Hisses and mur- 
murs were heard all over the house.) “In 
fact, your action is less defensible in this re- 
spect than theirs. The most rapacious corpo- 
ration only seeks to fix the price of its own 
product ; it does not seek to compel you to buy 
it, and it does not adopt forcible measures 
against its competitors. You fix the price of 
your labor, and then try to collect that price at 
the point of a gun. You prevent by force the 
employment of competing labor. You seize 
the property of others and hold it to compel 
the owners to pay your price. Suppose they 
should take possession of your cabins and your 
furniture and clothing and hold them until you 
went back to work at any price they might dic- 
tate. The principle on which you base your 
right to exist as a union is that a man’s labor 
is his own to do with as he pleases, and you 
violate this principle at the very outset of a 
strike in your attitude toward non-union men.” 

Fists were clenched, and the murmurs were 


BOB CAKLTON, AMEEICAN 123 


becoming louder, but Eobert raised his voice 
above them. 

“There is not a trust on earth that tries to 
prevent by force your use of any substitute for 
their product that you can devise. The big- 
gest and best corporations realize that the only 
way to command permanent success is to de- 
serve it. It leaves you free to buy wherever 
you please. If it tried to do otherwise, would 
you stand it? Not for a minute, and I would 
head your movement in opposition thereto. Yet 
you are trying exactly the tactics which you 
would condemn in your employer were he short- 
sighted enough to use them.” 

“Gag him,” “Throw him out,” came from 
several parts of the hall. 

Eobert continued: 

“I am a better union man than any of you, 
because I want to save the unions from them- 
selves, from corrupt leadership — ” 

At this point several men sprang for him and 
yelled : 

“Down with the scab!” 

A man had Eobert by each arm, while an- 
other started for him with a stove-poker. Using 
the man on his left as a brace, Eobert threw 


124 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


his right-hand antagonist against the man with 
the poker and the two went sprawling to the 
floor. 

“Back into the corner, Bob,” said Hudson, 
who had leaped like a tiger into the middle of 
the fray. The two men fought their way to 
the corner. Hudson hauled one man with him 
and used him as a shield. When they reached 
the corner, the crowd hesitated, no one wishing 
to take the initiative against two such deter- 
mined fighters. 

“Come on, you cowards!” yelled Hudson. 

“ ’Tain’t exactly fair, fellers, fer so many to 
jump on two,” declared the chairman. 

“Kill the scabs!” shouted the man whom 
Hudson had used as a shield, and it was evi- 
dent that the majority were in favor of admin- 
istering some form of punishment to the of- 
fenders. 

“I move we let ’em off if the big ’un ’ll 
stand up before Kid Barnett fer three rounds,” 
called one. 

This suggestion seemed to please the crowd. 
They were confident of the outcome, and would 
have the double satisfaction of seeing a prize- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 125 

fight and witnessing the punishment of this loud 
talker. 

“Kid Barnett!” shouted a dozen voices. 

Kid Barnett was at that time the champion 
pugilist of the district and the pride of Ana- 
conda. 

Robert tried to reason with them. 

“I hope you have too much sense to try to 
force men to fight. Besides, it is unjust to 
Mr. Barnett to drag him into this thing. ’ ’ 

“Don’t you worry about me,” called out Bar- 
nett. “If there’s enough fellers to drag you 
in. I’ll drag myself.” 

“I have no quarrel with Mr. Barnett nor 
any one else,” protested Robert. 

“Aw, he’s afraid to fight. What did ye come 
out here fer? Did ye think it was a tafify- 
pull?” 

Hudson’s ire was slowly rising. 

“Let me fight him, Bob,” he begged. “I 
can stand the thumpin’ better ’n ye can, and a 
black eye won’t look so bad in my business as 
in your’n.” 

“No, indeed. Jack. Do you think I would 
stand here and watch him hammer you! If 


126 BOB CAKLTON, AMERICAN 


one of ns must fight this man, I propose to do 
it.” 

Then he turned to the crowd again. 

“I ask you as men to prevent this outrage.” 

“He’s af eared I’ll spoil his beauty,” sneered 
Barnett. 

“If nothing else will satisfy you, we might 
as well have it out,” said Robert, philosophi- 
cally. 

“Wish ye’d let me tackle him. Bob.” 

“No, Jack, if you fight, I will; then the whole 
mob will join in again. There will be less 
damage done in a single-handed encounter.” 

“But he’s the champion of the district. Bob. 
Ye can’t stand up before him long,” said Hud- 
son, in an undertone, thinking that Robert did 
not know that Barnett was a pugilist. 

“I know all about him, Jack, and have just 
that much the advantage.” 

“Who’ll be referee?” asked someone. 

“The chairman knows the rules,” said an- 
other. “Will you scabs agree on him?” 

“You are dictating this fight,” said Robert, 
“and you will have whom you choose. I think 
he will be as fair as any of you.” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 127 

The chairman came forward to act as 
referee. 

“Be my second, Jim, fer a few minutes,” 
said Barnett, speaking to a chum and laughing 
in anticipation of an easy victory before an 
admiring audience. 

“Choose yer second, Mr. Talkeasy,” said a 
grinning miner in the front row. 

Robert only smiled at the formalities ob- 
served in a fight which was being forced on him. 

“I’ll be his second, ye hounds; and if ye 
don’t fight fair, I’ll make ye all the trouble I 
can as long as I last,” Hudson said. 

“Better keep yer wind, old man. One orator 
in the family is enough, ’ ’ was the response. 

“Jack, you must keep out of this. If it is a 
fight they want there is a semblance of fair- 
ness to this arrangement. I will give them 
that much credit.” 

Then, turning to the referee: 

“Will you post me on the rules necessary 
for me to know?” 

“He don’t even know the rules,” a man called 
out. 

The referee explained the important rules, 
while the floor was being chalked off and the 
crowd forced back. 


128 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Barnett had stripped to the waist, and was 
walking around the ring winking at his friends 
and displaying his well-developed muscles to 
their admiring gaze. Hudson stood in Rob- 
ert’s corner looking sullen. When the crowd 
laughed, his hands clenched and he longed to 
precipitate a free-fight, despite Bob’s protests. 

“Git ready,’’ said the referee, to Robert. 

“Mr. Barnett,” said Robert, “as this is a 
forced fight for the entertainment of your 
friends, would it not be as well for us to have 
some gloves?” 

“Ha, ha!” laughed Barnett. “It don’t ap- 
pear to be your say, and if you leave it to me, 
I don’t keer for ’em,” and the crowd roared 
at their champion’s wit. 

Robert slowly took off his coat, vest and 
outer shirt; there were some knowing looks 
passed around as he stepped into the ring and 
his huge muscles were seen through his under- 
shirt. 

While this was Robert’s first fight with bare 
knuckles, he had been in many boxing-bouts in 
his boyhood days. When he was twelve years 
old he had been a small stockholder in a syn- 
dicate formed for the purpose of acquiring a 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 129 


set of boxing-gloves. The first year Robert 
advanced several classes and was soon a match 
for boys much older than himself. When he 
left Ashland, no man in the neighborhood was 
so skillful in boxing. 

Barnett had the advantage of real experi- 
ence in genuine prize-fights and was a better 
ring tactician, but Robert was his superior in 
size and strength. He was born with a good 
frame, had worked hard from his youth up, 
and neither his physical development nor his 
nervous energy had ever been weakened by in- 
correct habits. 

The referee called ‘ ‘ time. ’ ’ Kid Barnett ex- 
tended his hand and Robert took it, feeling a 
little foolish in going through the formalities 
of the prize-ring, but he put his arms up as 
naturally and as correctly as did his antago- 
nist. 

Barnett thought he would amuse the crowd 
for awhile by playing with Robert in cat-and- 
mouse fashion, before going in and finishing 
him. He pranced around and made feints and 
faces while the crowd roared with laughter. 
Hudson’s fingernails were sinking into his 


130 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


palms with anger, but Eobert was very com- 
posed and kept his eye on his opponent. 

“If you won’t fight ’till you’re hit,” said 
Barnett, “I’ll tap you one,” and he made seve- 
ral efforts to reach Bob’s face, but failed. The 
Kid’s smile vanished and he forced the fighting 
rmtil he succeeded in giving Eobert a good rap. 
This brought a round of applause, and Eobert 
felt one eye closing and a scowl crossed his fea- 
tures. Still he maintained the defensive, tak- 
ing short-range thumps without trying to re- 
taliate. Barnett was getting mad and resolved 
to shorten the fight to one round if possible. 
After repeated attempts, he succeeded in land- 
ing on Eobert ’s nose and started it bleeding. 

“How do you like that?” he cried. The 
crowd cheered, and Hudson jumped to Eobert ’s 
side with a bound. 

“Stand back. Jack,” commanded Eobert, 
pushing him back with one hand, “you’ll make 
him claim a foul.” 

Now Eobert ’s knees bent slightly, and he 
seemed to move on springs. There was the 
panther crouch in his walk and the panther’s 
gleam was in his eye. His muscles relaxed, so 
the cords could jerk them up tighter at his will. 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 131 


The yells of the crowd increased as they saw 
the blood running down over Robert’s face and 
shirt. He soon received a short-arm jab and 
gave Barnett a punch in return that angered 
him so that he came up with a rush. Robert 
made a pass with his left and almost at the 
same moment his right shot out like a piston- 
rod. Barnett interposed his left fore-arm, but 
he might as well have tried to stop the kick of 
a mule. The blow landed over his heart and 
fairly lifted him off his feet. He fell in a heap 
at the edge of the right. 

It was now Hudson’s turn to cheer, and he 
did not neglect it. 

‘‘Take that, ye bloke!” he roared. “Bully, 
Bob. Yip, yip ! Why don’t you yell, out there? 
Did ye hear his hones rattle? One more punch 
like that. Bob, and that feller’ll have to go back 
to workin’ fer a livin’. How do you like the 
smell of pine?” he asked, as Barnett arose to 
his feet while the referee counted as slowly as 
possible. Barnett now sparred for breath, and 
as Robert was not inclined to rush things, 
neither struck a blow before the referee called 
time. 

Barnett staggered to his corner and dropped 


132 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


into a chair. Hudson insisted on Jack’s tak- 
ing the seat provided for him, while he wiped 
the blood from his face. 

“Is yer nose hurt, Bob?” 

“Not permanently, old man.” 

“You certainly disarranged his internals 
that last punch. If ye’ll stay mad, ye’ll lick 
him sure. He’s got a nasty upper-cut. Look 
out for it. If he lands that, the referee will 
count faster ’n he did the other time. He al- 
most got it in once or twice, but them big arms 
of your’n sort o’ blocked him.” 

Once more they were summoned to the mid- 
dle of the ring. Barnett’s smile had changed 
to a scowl. 

“Haven’t you had enough of this disgusting 
affair?” asked Eobert of the crowd. 

“Not ’till you are carried out on a stretch- 
er,” replied one. 

‘ ‘ Finish him, Barney ! ’ ’ yelled another. Bar- 
nett now realized that it was no easy work to 
knock out this man, but he was no quitter. He 
made several attempts to land on Eobert, but 
they were stopped. He tried all of the tricks 
which he knew, while Eobert simply defended 
himself and studied his antagonist. He no- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 133 


ticed that Barnett was growing careless with 
his guard. Not until Robert received a sting- 
ing blow on the cheek did he resume the offen- 
sive. The crowd cheered as they heard the 
impact, and Hudson took his hands from his 
pockets. Robert was dazed for a second, but 
when he recovered. Jack again observed the 
crouching motion. 

“Look out. Kid/’ he muttered. “When he 
does that, it’s pretty near bed-time fer you.” 

Robert’s limbs and body bent as though his 
bones were willow; his eyes narrowed to a slit. 
Suddenly his left arm swung around like a cat’s 
paw and pelted Barnett in the short-ribs so that 
it was heard all over the house. 

“Good work!” screamed Hudson. Barnett 
slowly circled around the ring several times, 
and finally, to save himself, clinched. While 
holding Robert’s wrist with one hand, Barnett 
gave him a severe blow on the jaw with the 
other. Hudson jumped forward and claimed a 
foul. The referee hesitated, but Robert pushed 
Barnett from him and said: 

“It is no foul until we claim it. Keep quiet, 
Jack!” 


134 BOB CAELTON, AMEKICAN 


Hudson smiled as lie saw Bob’s expression, 
and he knew the end was near. 

“Give him one more, Barney, and you’ll fin- 
ish him,” cried an admirer. 

Barnett responded with a heavy swing, but 
Eobert ducked, and as he came up his big right 
fist landed on the pugilist’s jaw with such force 
that he spun around before falling in a heap to 
the floor. 

■“No use to count slow this time, Mr. Chair- 
man,” scoffed Hudson. “It’ll be several min- 
utes before he knows his own name.” 

Barnett lay as though he was dead for some 
time after the referee counted him out, and 
gave the fight to Eobert. 

By the time the decision was made, Eobert ’s 
anger had subsided and he walked over to 
where a man was working over his late 
antagonist. 

^‘I hope you are not hurt,” he said, but Bar- 
nett did not answer. Several miners came 
forward and shock hands with Eobert. They 
had agreed with him all along that it was wrong 
to take possession of the mines, and they were 
given courage to acknowledge it by his moral 
and physical prowess. 



His big right fist landed on the pugilist’s Jaw.” 


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BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 135 


The crowd no longer hemmed them in a cor- 
ner, When Robert had washed his face and 
put on his clothes, Hudson took him by the arm 
and led him out. 

“They didn’t know what they was up agin. 
Put to sleep in the second round,” he chuckled, 
as they left the room. 


136 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


CHAPTER X 

SAVED BY STEATEGY 

The superintendent of the Strong mine, Mr. 
McDonald, having heard of the affair at Ana- 
conda, employed Robert and Hudson, at liberal 
wages, to assist in guarding the mine. They 
had been there only a few days when their en- 
gagement was abruptly terminated. 

One morning the town of Victor was shaken 
as by an earthquake; windows were broken, 
and a deafening roar was heard all over the 
eastern portion of the district. Those in sight 
of the Strong mine saw its building collapse, 
and a cloud of smoke, timbers, iron and miscel- 
laneous debris rise in the air like the eruption 
of a volcano. 

McDonald, Hudson and Robert were sup- 
posed to have perished in the buildings; but 
while men were searching the ruins for their 
bodies they were uncomfortably crouched two 
hundred feet underground, waiting for assist- 
ance. Their escape was miraculous. Through 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 137 


a crack in the shaft-house, McDonald caught a 
gleam of a fuse, burning toward a keg of 
powder which had been placed under the build- 
ing. The door of the shaft-house had been 
nailed shut by the conspirators. A word from 
McDonald told the whole story, and the three 
men sprang into the cage and let it almost drop 
down the shaft to the second level. Robert 
looked up, and at the same instant the blast of 
dirt and fine rock came down the shaft, filling 
his eyes and cutting them quite badly. Mc- 
Donald and Hudson jumped out of the cage at 
the second level and drew Robert out just in 
time to prevent his being crushed by the mass 
of stone and timbers which came crashing down 
on the deserted cage. They retreated to the 
breast of the drift to get away from the burn- 
ing timbers in the shaft. They found a candle, 
dropped by a miner, and this faint light helped 
them in groping their way. Hudson noticed a 
stick of dynamite projecting from a drill-hole. 
Fearing that it might be ignited and add to the 
horror of the situation, he carefully opened the 
end and turned the explosive out into the mud. 
In an absent-minded manner, he amused him- 
self by replacing the fuse in the case and tuck- 


138 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


ing the paper in the end again, so that it looked 
like a loaded stick He stuck this in the pocket 
of his coat without any definite purpose in so 
doing. 

The next twenty-four hours were the long- 
est ever spent by the entombed men. Even 
Eobert’s magnificent courage would have weak- 
ened but for the optimism of his more experi- 
enced companions. 

“They won’t break their necks diggin’ fer a 
bunch of scabs, but they will try to save the 
timbers in the shaft. They’re purty mad, but 
they know that this mine will mean bread and 
butter to them and their families fer several 
years after this strike is settled and f ergot,” 
said the philosophical McDonald. 

“Besides, they don’t know we’re here,” 
chuckled Jack. “It’s our game to lay low, and 
after they’ve blistered their hands removin’ 
the dirt, we’ll step out and give ’em a vote of 
thanks.” 

For all of their forced cheerfulness, there 
were times when they were almost suffocated 
by smoke and fumes. They would take turns 
in walking as near to the burning shaft as they 
dared. Finally, daylight was seen, and almost 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 139 


instantly extinguished by a jet of steam from 
a stream of water. 

“Thank God she’s punctured,” gasped Hud- 
son, returning to report. Soon after, a wel- 
come shout was heard, more water was turned 
on the burning timbers and a bucket from a 
temporary windlass was lowered in response 
to their calls. 

One at a time they were raised to the sur- 
face and disarmed. They were put in charge 
of three men and ordered to Altman. On the 
way, they passed rows of intrenchments along 
the side of Battle mountain, behind which hun- 
dreds of strikers were preparing to continue 
the war and retain possession of the mines. 
They could see the union stronghold, Altman, 
one of the highest towns in Colorado, on the 
very top of Bull Hill. From this place the 
strikers could look down the north slope of the 
hill to the Isabella and Victor mines and on 
the opposite side to many other deserted camps. 
The prisoners were wondering whether their 
condition was much improved by their “res- 
cue,” when an immense puff of smoke was seen 
to rise into the sky near Altman, shortly fol- 
lowed by a cannon-like explosion. 


140 BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


“That’s the signal to be ready for the depu- 
ties,’’ said one of the guards. “They camped 
in Gillette last night.” 

Once more they saw the puff and heard the 
signal roar, and men were seen going up out 
of Victor and down from Altman to get into the 
trenches and resist the deputies. 

“There they come!” said one of their escort, 
pointing down the valley that ran around the 
east of the hill. Men kept pouring into view 
until nearly a thousand deputies were in sight, 
all carrying guns. 

As the deputies passed through Goldfield, 
jeers and yells saluted them on every side, and 
they were kept busy dodging missiles of all 
sorts which came flying out of windows and 
back yards. 

They broke up into a dozen squads in order 
not to present such a large target to the strik- 
ers. They could now plainly see the trenches 
made by the strikers and the lines of men pass- 
ing between them. 

When the prisoners reached Altman they 
could see the deputies slowly moving up the 
side of the mountain into the teeth of the 
trenches. 


BOB CAKLTON, AMEEICAN 141 


Behind rocks, about ten feet apart, which 
formed a circle around the slope, men were 
hidden, each group in charge of several barrels 
of stone. In the center of each barrel was 
dynamite or powder, and a fuse extended from 
the explosive to the end of the barrel. At a 
given signal, a fuse was ignited and the barrel 
was started rolling down the mountain-side. 

When the deputies saw these spluttering en- 
gines of destruction coming towards them, a 
few hid among the rocks, but most of them ran 
down the mountain ahead of the barrels. 

What a sight! As the fuse burned to the 
center of the barrel it exploded, filling the air 
with fiying projectiles, while the road was 
choked with panic-stricken deputies. Some of 
them succeeded in avoiding one explosion, only 
to find themselves in the path of another engine 
of destruction. 

It was a novel warfare, but more pyrotechni- 
cal than effective. The strikers at the top of 
the mountain were hurrahing over the undig- 
nified retreat of their enemies and were pre- 
paring additional relays of barrels. The dis- 
comfited deputies congregated at the foot of the 
mountain and found that their feelings had 


142 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


been hurt more than their persons. There was 
a consultation among the leaders, who con- 
cluded that it was decidedly up-hill work try- 
ing to arrest anyone on the mountain. The 
strikers had the advantage in numbers and 
situation, were entrenched and well armed and 
would undoubtedly shoot to kill any who suc- 
ceeded in evading the rolling bombs. It was 
decided to enlist more volunteers before making 
another attack. 

“I’ve fit about everything that wears h’ar,” 
declared one, “but this ten-pin business with 
me fer the pin don’t strike my fancy. I don’t 
mind gettin’ killed if I’ve got a show to re- 
spond, but this is too blamed one-sided.” 

Some had handkerchiefs around their heads, 
a few wore their arms in slings or were limp- 
ing badly, while most of them bore evidence 
of hard usage. 

They marched around to Victor and took pos- 
session of the Independence, leaving fifteen men 
to guard it. The others went into the valley 
and pitched their tents. 

In Altman, a different scene was being 
enacted. The walking delegates of the Altman 
local, Mr. Duter, assumed control of the three 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 143 


prisoners, who were mucli disappointed over 
the result of the skirmish. It was growing 
dark when they were escorted to a saloon which 
was filled with jubilant miners, gathered around 
the gambling-tables. 

“Brought these scabs around here, Tom, 
thinkin’ they’d like to set ’em up in honor of 
the deputies’ retreat,” said Duter, as they 
walked into the saloon. 

“What’ll it be, gents?” called out the bar- 
tender, loud enough for all in the room to hear. 
“It’ll cost about a five-spot to irrigate this 
crowd,” he said to the prisoners. 

No one answered him, and a man stepped up 
to Robert and in a confidential manner, vol- 
unteered some advice. 

“Lemme give you a pointer. Ef you’uns don’ 
want to take all thirty-three degrees to once, 
you better set ’em up as long as yer money 
lasts an’ commence right soon, fer we’re mighty 
dry.” 

The crowd were gathering around the three, 
welcoming the prospect of a free fight or a 
free drink, and not caring a great deal in which 
they shared. 

“I will not pay for any drinks,” said Rob- 


144 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


ert, as firmly as he had declined to disclose 
Aleen’s guilt to the schoolteacher, five years 
before. 

“Neither will I,” said McDonald and Hud- 
son together. 

“Well, then I reckon we’ll have to give ye a 
touch of high life,” said Duter. “Give us the 
rope, Tom. We’ll tie their hands, and if they 
won’t pay for the drinks we’ll toss ’em for ’em 
on the soft side of this table. ’ ’ 

“What do you say, old man?” asked the bar- 
tender, looking at Hudson. “Is it buy or 
bump?” 

Robert and McDonald, knowing Hudson’s 
nerve, were surprised that he made no retort, 
but they noticed a little grin on his face as his 
hands felt something in his inside coat-pocket. 

Miners and gamblers were now closing in to 
participate in the sport of tossing the victims 
on a table, a variation of tossing men in a 
blanket practiced when the latter procedure 
seemed too mild for the case. 

The bouncer for the place left his elevated 
throne beyond the gaming-tables and came 
slowly forward, as befitted his dignity, to join 
the festivities. His brutal, bull-dog face, usual- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 145 


ly expressionless, lighted np with anticipation. 

“Better dig up, one of you,” he said, wishing 
to shorten the operation, so it would not unduly 
interfere with the regular business of the place. 

“Wait a minute, boys. Drinks taste better 
after a toast, an’ I want to make a few remarks 
before settin’ ’em up,” said Hudson, climbing 
up on a chair. “This camp’d be a blamed 
sight better off ’thout so many loafers and 
strikers an’ claim- jumpers an’ tin-horn gam- 
blers. As there seems to be a purty fair sprin- 
klin’ of each sort assembled here this evenin’, 
I’m leanin’ to the notion of bein’ a public bene- 
factor. A feller can’t die but once, and if we 
three go to hell in this bunch we’ll look com- 
paratively decent. Lingerin’ illness is wearin’ 
on yer folks an’ expensive, so I’m goin’ to show 
ye a quicker route an’ one we’ll all travel 
together.” 

“Quit yer kiddin’, you old scab. If you don’t 
want to get bumped, put yer money on the bar,” 
said Duter. 

Hudson gave him a withering look. “Hang 
onto yer union card, Duter. It ’ll probably give 
ye some standin’ where ye’re goin’.” 

“You old whelp. I’ll stop yer clatter,” 


146 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


yelled the walking delegate, trying to elbow 
his way to Hudson. 

“Let him alone. He’s goin’ to ante,” said 
a man, whose pockets were bulging with chips, 
holding Duter back. “Hurry up, old man. I’m 
afraid my luck’ll change if you keep up this 
talk-game too long.” 

“Them celluloid chips won’t be safe to carry 
around down where ye’re going in a minute, 
friend,” replied Hudson. “Better throw them 
away before the big show opens.” 

“Oh, cut that out,” interposed the proprie- 
tor. “I think the old cuss is loony.” 

“Come, come! Talk’s cheap, but it takes 
money to buy whiskey,” urged an impatient 
dealer, eager to resume business. 

“Well, boys, this round is on me, an’ it’s the 
last drink ye’ll take on earth.” 

While sajdng this he pulled the stick of dyna- 
mite from inside his coat, lit the short fuse 
with a match and held it high above his head. 

“Hurry up, barkeep. Pour out the pizen fer 
the boys before the fuse burns out.” 

The sparks were now flying from the rapidly 
shortening fuse. Every man in the room knew 
a stick of dynamite on sight, and most of them 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 147 


knew about bow long it would take the fire to 
reach the dynamite. 

“Djmamite! Crazy! Suicide! Murder!” 
and a dozen other yells, intermingled with 
oaths, were heard as the crowd rushed for the 
door, knocking over tables and chairs and scat- 
tering cards, lay-outs, and fragments of glass 
over the floor. The bouncer was the first man 
out. The bartender threw a heavy glass at 
Hudson, who dodged, and the missile struck 
Duter, who up to that point seemed disposed 
to show fight. With a yell, Duter and the bar- 
tender sprang for the door together. They 
collided and rolled over on the floor. Both 
scrambled to their feet, facing for an instant 
the sizzling death in Hudson’s hand, and dashed 
out of the building. 

In less than a minute after Hudson lit the 
fuse the three prisoners held undisputed pos- 
session of the saloon. 

Robert and McDonald were a little fright- 
ened when Hudson ignited the fuse, but know- 
ing his fertile old brain, they soon guessed that 
he had some plan in view for their salvation 
and not their destruction. All three joined in 


148 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


a hearty laugh to see the panic of their erst- 
while captors. 

“By thunder, that beat any stampede ever 1 
see,” laughed Hudson, leaning on the bar. 

“You’re a trump, Hudson,” said McDonald. 

“That was good for sore eyes, old chap,” 
said Robert, slapping Hudson on the shoulder 
and squinting through his half -closed optics. 

“We’ve won the first skirmish, but it won’t 
do to hang around here too long,” suggested 
McDonald. “When they find it’s a false alarm, 
they’ll he back madder than ever.” 

“Wish I could find a candle,” said Hudson, 
searching the drawers behind the bar. ‘ ‘ Here ’s 
one now. An’ I’ll just annex this pizen-mixer’s 
gun, seein’ they’ve got ourn.” 

“Going to set oif some more fire- works I” 
asked McDonald. 

“Not much. I’d sooner wave a rea rag at 
a bull or a wash-rag at an anarchist than show 
them fellers any more fireworks. Come on!” 
said Hudson, as he went out the back-door. “I 
helped to dig the Burns shaft in this back-yard 
and I see they haven’t moved it.” 

Neither Robert nor McDonald paused to 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 149 


question Hudson as to their destination. They 
stopped in front of a windlass. 

“Bob, ye get in fust. Ye need a doctor fer 
them lamps o’ yourn and better hunt shelter as 
soon as ye can. Get in with him, Mac, and I’ll 
let ye both down with that windlass.” 

“No, Jack, you go with Carlton. You know 
the underground workings, and I do not. No 
use killing time. I am the last man down, ’ ’ de- 
clared McDonald. 

“All right. Let her fly fer about two hun- 
dred feet and then go slow ’till I holler ‘Stop’.” 

AVhen McDonald had landed his cargo at the 
three-hundred-foot level, he heard voices and 
footsteps in the saloon. He quickly fastened 
the windlass and slid down the rope. 

“There’s a cross-cut from this level into the 
Pharmacist woi'kin’s, if we can And it,” said 
Hudson, leading the way with the candle. 

“And from there?” queried McDonald. 

‘ ‘ Prom there, if we can drop down a hundred 
feet, we’ll git into the tunnel-level and can walk 
out about forty rods down the hill and give 
them the slip, unless they git onto our line o’ 
march and appint a reception committee to 
meet us.” 


150 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 

“Thank the Lord, here’s a rope fast at the 
top,” said Hudson, who reached the Pharma- 
cist shaft first. “I’ll slide down and find the 
landin’.” 

Hudson ran some tallow from the candle 
onto the toe of his shoe, stuck the candle in it 
and slid down the rope. 

“All right,” he called, as they saw him land 
safely at the lower level. They quickly re- 
joined him as he was scraping the tallow from 
his shoe. 

“That’s what ye call bein’ a lamp unto my 
feet, I reckon, ’ ’ he grinned. “ Now it ’s straight 
walkin’ fer the rest of the way. Eyes hurt ye 
much, Bob? Next avalanche party ye attend, 
better keep ’em shut. By Henry Peck ! I heard 
the other day that there had been some high 
gradin’ goin’ on in this mine, and it looks like 
it. Richest ore in the camp is right here. It 
would be a joke on us if they had a guard at 
the mouth of the tunnel.” 

It was so dark outside that they were close 
to the entrance before they realized it, and a 
watchman saw their light. 

“Halt! and throw up your hands!” came the 
command. Hudson blew out the candle, and his 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 151 


action was promptly followed by a shot from 
the watchman’s pistol. 

“Hold on, partner! Point that gun t’other 
way er ye mought do some damage. I hate to 
fire on a man fer doing his duty,” said Hud- 
son, “but we ain’t goin’ to stand here fer tar- 
get practice.” The guard’s reply was unprint- 
able. 

“No, neighbor, we jest came from thar an’ 
have no notion o’ goin’ back, leastways not per- 
pendickler. All we want is to get out o’ here 
without any trouble,” 

“You’ll go to Altman with me, or I’ll shoot 
you full of holes.” 

“Say, but ye’re a powerful shot with yer 
mouth. Besides, it’s my next shot, an’ I’ll see 
that ye don’t shoot out o’ yer turn.” 

A few moments of silence ensued in which 
the guard was considering what to do. He was 
at a double disadvantage of not knowing the 
number of his foes and of standing in the com- 
parative light, while they were in the dark 
tunnel. 

“See that tree, right there?” asked Hudson, 
as his revolver cracked and the bark flew in 
the watchman’s face. “Just stand yer gun 


152 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


agin it and we’ll excuse yer back fer a few 
minutes.” 

The man started to obey and then hesitated. 

“A leetle faster,” said Hudson, and he once 
more pulled the trigger. The watchman felt 
the impact as a piece was torn from the tail of 
his coat. “Now if ye look back agin, ye’ll turn 
to sumthin’ stiff er’n a pillar of salt.” 

The watchman stood facing the tree with his 
hands held high in air, as the three men emerged 
from the tunnel. They knew that the picket- 
line between them and Cripple Creek was im- 
passable, so they went direct to Victor. 

The next morning, Robert’s eyes were so 
badly swollen that he could not see. 

Union men in Victor learned of their escape, 
and swore that they would take them back to 
Altman, but the anticipated conflict was avoided 
by the exchange of three strikers who were in 
jail in Colorado Springs for McDonald, Hudson 
and Robert. The three reported at the Victor 
depot and went through all of the formalities 
of an exchange. 

The news of Robert’s escape from the Strong 
mine and of the injury to his eyes soon reached 
Aleen, in Cripple Creek. ’She told her aunt 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 153 


and nncle that she wanted to join a party of 
Chicago friends, who were exploring the canons 
in the neighborhood of Manitou, and that she 
might be gone a few days or several weeks. 
They readily assented, as they feared that life 
in Cripple Creek during a miners’ strike did 
not offer many allurements to a young lady with 
Aleen’s fondness for social diversions. Prom- 
ising to let them hear from her often, she went 
to Victor by the first stage and was at the depot 
when the exchange took place. 

She was walking the platform, wearing a 
heavy, blue veil when the three friends came 
down to the train, followed by a crowd. As 
soon as she saw Eobert, she realized that her 
precaution was needless, for his eyes were cov- 
ered by a bandage. Notwithstanding his con- 
dition, the strikers paid him an unintentional 
compliment by detailing two men to escort him. 

Tlie train soon arrived, and Deputy-Sheriff 
Brisbain stepped off the car with his prisoners, 
and they were at once surrounded by friends. 
There was some loud talking now by a few hot- 
headed men, who objected to making an even 
exchange. 

“We ought to have three for that man there,” 
said one, pointing to Eobert. “He can do more 


154 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


damage with his tongue than ten men with 
guns.” 

“He’ll be pretty busy for awhile getting back 
his eyesight. He ’s too near blind now to make 
any trouble,” said another. 

“I agreed to an even exchange, and that 
goes,” said one of the committee. 

Thus by a procedure altogether unique in 
the history of labor troubles, the existence of 
war was tacitly acknowledged. 

McDonald consulted one of the owners of the 
Strong mine, and Aleen heard him say to Rob- 
ert: 

“Carlton, you miist go to the hotel and have 
a doctor and a nurse until you can see again.” 

“Thanks, McDonald, but I think I had better 
go home with Jack. I will be all right in a 
few days.” 

“Not by a long shot! You were serving our 
company when you got hurt and we propose to 
take care of you. Here is Dr. Kenyon now. 
Doctor, come and take a look at this man’s 
eyes.” 

They all walked into the depot. Aleen fol- 
lowed, but kept behind Robert. The bandage 
was removed and the doctor made a hurried 
examination. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 155 


“He must be kept in a dark room until the 
inflammation is allayed, and he must have some 
one to keep his eyes cooled with ice continually, 
or he may lose his sight,” was the doctor’s ver- 
dict. 

McDonald called a carriage and put Eobert 
in and ordered the driver to take him to the 
hotel. 

Aleen heard the doctor’s statement, although 
she pretended to be looking out of the window. 

He might go blind if he did not receive proper 
attention! He would be dependent on strang- 
ers ! Her love urged her to reveal to him and 
offer her services. Her pride pulled in the 
opposite direction. She fought out the ques- 
tion while walking rapidly toward the hotel, 
and decided on a middle course. She would 
nurse him, but preserve her incognito. In his 
blinded condition this would not be difficult. 

She entered the hotel and went directly to the 
clerk. 

“I heard that you had an injured man here 
who needs a nurse for awhile, and I called to 
see if I could be of service.” 

“Well, you are certainly prompt. No other 
applicants ahead of you, that’s a cinch. I’ll 
ask McDonald,” said the admiring clerk. 


156 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


The superintendent soon came down and the 
clerk turned to Aleen. 

“Your name is — V’ 

This was rather sudden. She had no time 
to exercise her inventive faculties, but gave the 
first patronymic which came to her mind. 

“Smith, Miss Smith.” 

“Miss Smitli, this is Mr. McDonald, superin- 
tendent of the Strong mine. Miss Smith is a 
nurse and wishes to tender her services in Carl- 
ton’s case.” 

“Miss Smith, do you live here?” 

“No, sir. I am spending my vacation in the 
mountains and was at the depot just now and 
accidentally heard of this case.” 

“Have you any references?” 

Poor Aleen ’s heart went out in sympathy to 
countless domestics to whom her mother had 
addressed a similar inquiry in the past. 

“No, sir. I did not expect to find employ- 
ment out here. I understand that it is a case 
requiring care rather than skill. If after a 
trial the patient or doctor wishes to make a 
change, they can easily do so.” 

“That’s fair,” he said, impressed more by 
Aleen ’b looks than her words. “I believe that 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 157 


there is nothing to do but to keep ice on his 
eyes. Wliat are your charges?” 

“Ten dollars a week and my board,” she 
said glibly, unconscious that she was making a 
terrific cut in prices. 

“Very reasonable. Can you come at once?” 

“Yes, sir. I can stay now if you will send 
for my suitcase, which is at the depot.” 

“Good! Jenkins, give her the room adjoin- 
ing Carlton’s,” he said, as he went back to 
Robert’s bedside. 


158 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XI 

THE NTJESE 

Aleen went to her room and awaited the 
return of the hoy who was sent for her grip. 
It was not a very cheerful apartment, but to 
her it was next door to heaven. 

She had obtained her position very adroitly. 
Would she be able to go through with the part 
she was playing without betraying herself to 
Robert? Her knowledge concerning the quali- 
fications of a nurse was limited to their ap- 
parel, so she went out and purchased some 
white aprons and a couple of bows of the same 
color for her hair. She had some wash-waists 
and a plain skirt or two in her suit-case and 
could easily obtain more clothing from the 
supply at Uncle Joseph’s. 

The doctor was in Robert’s room, examining 
his eyes. When she judged that he had fin- 
ished, she ventured to the door. 

“Doctor Kenyon, this is Miss Smith, a nurse 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 159 


■whom I have engaged to help take care of Carl- 
ton,” said Mr. McDonald. 

“I am glad yon were able to secure one so 
promptly,” said the doctor. “Miss Smith, 
your duties will be very simple. See that the 
bandage is kept over the patient’s eyes. Not 
a ray of light must reach them for several days 
and they must be kept -at a low temperature 
constantly by applications of cracked ice.” 

It was arranged for Aleen to attend the 
case during the day and a man was hired for 
the night. 

Aleen followed the doctor into the hall and 
obtained more specific instructions as to her 
duties, and learned that great care must be 
used to prevent the patient’s becoming blind. 
This made her regret that she had not suffi- 
cient strength to nurse him every hour of the 
twenty-four, but she reduced the quota of the 
night nurse to the minimum, and made herself 
very popular with him by relieving him at fre- 
quent intervals. 

It had not occurred to anyone to go through 
the formalities of an introduction. Robert’s 
quick ear caught the name. Smith, but beyond 
this bit of misinformation he had no clue to her 


160 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


identity. Occasionally lie would hear the rustle 
of her skirts, but she resisted all his efforts to 
draw her into conversation. 

When it was time to put more ice on his eyes 
and to wring out the sponge which took up the 
water, she would tip-toe to the bed as though 
he were asleep and carefully remove the outer 
cloth or bag which held the ice. In doing this, 
her hand frequently came in contact with his 
face, and it would pass over it with a delibera- 
tion altogether unnecessary, but very pleasant, 
to the patient. He observed the soft touch and 
tried to imagine what sort of a girl she must 
be to have such delicate fingers. 

His innate delicacy or stupidity where women 
were concerned made him hesitate to enter into 
conversation with her. But after racking his 
brain with conjectures for some time, he waited 
until she was carefully binding the ice over his 
eyes, and broke the silence. 

“I am afraid it will grow rather monotonous. 
Miss Smith, after you have changed that ban- 
dage a few dozen times.” 

She had anticipated this emergency, and only 
paused long enough to slip a pearl button under 
her tongue before replying. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 161 


“It is a very simple duty, Mr. Carlton,” was 
her muffled rejoinder. 

Poor Bob’s equipment of gallantry was quite 
exhausted by the brief exchange of courtesies, 
and he did not rally again until the time came 
to put on more ice. 

Finding that it was useless to wait for him to 
take the initiative, Aleen ventured to speak. 

“How did you hurt your eyes?” she asked, 
after inserting the button in its place again. 

“Some sand from an explosion got into them 
and I delayed giving them proper attention.” 

“Could you see when the doctor examined 
them?” 

“Oh, yes, I can see when he lifts up the lids.” 

“They must pain you terribly.” 

“No; the pain is not severe. The ice makes 
them feel much better.” 

This was the purport of their conversations 
through several hours. He occasionally felt 
her soft, warm touch on face or forehead, but 
she seldom spoke. 

The next morning Hudson came. 

“How are ye to-day. Bob?” 

“Fine, Jack! My eyes feel much better.” 

“Good shot, old boy! I knew ye was too 


162 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


tough to be knocked out fer long. This is a 
purty good place fer ye, now, though.” 

“Why so, Jack?” 

“Cause you’d make the most popular funeral 
in the district if some striker could get ye. As 
long as they think there is hopes of ye’re going 
blind they won’t bother you.” 

Aleen did not particularly enjoy the turn 
taken by the conversation, and went into her 
own room. 

“Bj’- gracious, that’s a peach of a nurse ye’ve 
got. "Who is she?” 

“Her name is Smith.” 

“Don’t keer fer the name, but it’ll only be 
temporary, probably. Hain’t ye seen her yit?” 

“Of course not. How could I?” 

“Well, she’s a world-beater. Finest looker 
ever I sot eyes on.” 

“Is she? Wliom does she look like?” 

“Never seed her ekal in face or figger. Seen 
some like her on a calendar, mebbe, but never 
walkin’ round.” 

“Is she young?” 

“ ’Bout twenty, I reckon.” 

“Handsome, is she?” mused Eobert. 

“Handsome! She’s the kind that could lead 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 163 


a feller to heaven or the other place and he’d 
never ask the destination so long as she kep’ on 
leadin’. She went right to my head, I tell ye, 
and fairly made me diz 2 y.” 

“Oh, Jack, you are exaggerating now.” 

“Am I, though? Just wait until ye git a peep 
at her and there won’t nobody git any more 
bandages over her eyes while she’s around.” 

After Hudson left, Eobert found that he had 
a growing interest in his quiet nurse. 

He never associated her with the loquacious 
Aleen of his younger days. Aleen always did 
the talking while Eobert furnished the mono- 
syllables. Her disguise was better than she 
knew. 

“Have you been a nurse very long?” ven- 
tured Eobert, at Aleen ’s reappearance, after 
the departure of Hudson. 

“No, I have not, but how came you to form 
that opinion? I trust that I am not doing my 
work unsatisfactorily.” 

Eobert thought he detected a shade of anxiety 
in her tone and hastened to reassure her. In 
doing so he was forced to admit that he and 
Hudson had been discussing her. 


164 BOB CABLTON, AMEEICAN 


“My friend told me that you looked very 
young,” lie said. 

She attended to his eyes faithfully and in 
accordance with the doctor’s directions, but 
when the physician came the next day, she kept 
out of the room while Eobert’s eyes were being 
examined and until they were covered again. 

“How is he?” Aleen asked, as the doctor 
came out. 

“His eyes are improving, but he must not use 
them.” 

These directions perfectly fitted in with her 
plans. Armed with the doctor’s instructions, 
she felt safe from detection. 

Hudson came every day, but as Eobert al- 
ready called him Jack, she did not know him 
by any other name. She frequently took advan- 
tage of his visits to go to her own room and 
rest. During her absence, she was often the 
subject of their remarks. 

“There is some little defect in her speech, 
Jack, and it seems to make her refrain from 
unnecessary talking. I never knew such a quiet 
girl in my life.” 

“I never heard her peep, so I can’t say,” re- 
sponded Hudson, “but if there’s a defect in her 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 165 


speech it’s the only one about her, and if a 
woman must have a defect, I don’t know a 
handier place to have it.” 

“I plan to see her some day to relieve my 
curiosity. Whom is she like ? ’ ’ 

“She ain’t like any one around these dig- 
gin’s. She’s in a class by herself without any 
other entries.” 

“You say she’s handsome. Can’t you de- 
scribe her?” 

“Couldn’t tell ye anything about her that 
wasn’t handsome, from her little shoe-tips to 
the top of her head, where she’s got enough 
hair fer two women, wavy-like an’ all the differ- 
ent colors of gold. Her eyes is gray an’ they 
look like they would light up from behind ef 
anythin’ rankled her, but most of the time 
they’re smilin’ at ye. She’s got plenty of eye- 
brows and lashes and a sassy little chin. Her 
skin looks like she’d been raised under glass, 
but with plenty of sunshine siftin’ through. Her 
hands are as little and soft as a baby’s, and 
she’s got a figger that’d make a circus-gal look 
like a cripple.” 

Jack’s honest admiration, coupled with his 


166 BOB CAELTON, AMEKICAN 


desire to lighten Eobert’s gloom, fairly took 
him out of himself. 

“Gracious, Jack, you must be overdrawing 
the picture.” 

“Couldn’t do it if I tried. If you would once 
see her, Bob, ye’d be almost willin’ to stay 
blind just to keep her where ye cud look at 
her,” said Jack, unconscious of his Hibernian- 
ism. 

“I could not look at her if I remained blind,” 
laughed Eobert. 

“That’s so. Still, I wish ye could get a 
glimpse of her. It’ud make it more interestin’ 
to know what a powerful good-looker ye had 
pawin’ over ye.” 

“I confess to some curiosity after your elo- 
quent description. I never saw a girl who 
talked so little.” 

“Ye hain’t seen her yit,” corrected Hudson. 

‘ ‘ That is so, but I think I will. My eyes feel 
a great deal better, and I will slip this ban- 
dage down sometime without her knowing it.” 

Aleen met Hudson in the hall, as he was going 
out, and thought she detected a sly look in his 
eye. If Eobert had not been blindfolded he 
would have noticed the knowing scrutiny with 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 167 

which she regarded him when she entered the 
room. 

When the doctor dressed his patient’s eyes 
that day, Eobert squinted anxiously at the door 
several times, hoping to get a sight of her, but 
she stayed out of the room until the doctor had 
him safely bandaged. 

On the next day she disappeared again when 
the doctor came. Eobert, thinking he would 
cause her to be summoned, suggested : 

“Doctor, you had better ask Miss Smith to 
bring a longer cloth.” 

“Miss Smith,” called the doctor. 

Eobert ’s face bore a look of expectancy as 
he half-raised his head from the pillow and 
looked toward the door. There was no re- 
sponse. 

“Here is the adjoining room. Try a rap on 
the door,” suggested Eobert. 

The doctor complied. 

“I cannot come now; I am changing my dress 
and getting ready for dinner.” 

“This will have to do,” said the doctor, pick- 
ing up the old bandage. 

The little scheme had failed. 

As the doctor was leaving, she accosted him. 


168 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“Better, isn’t he?” she asked, in a low voice. 

“Yes, he will pull through all right now.” 

That afternoon she had given Robert a drink 
and was walking away with the glass when she 
observed him putting his hand to the cloth. She 
stepped noiselessly back to the bed and stood 
motionless, watching him while he imagined that 
her back was toward him. She noticed a smile 
come over his face as he pushed at the bandage. 
She instantly caught hold of his wayward hand 
with one of hers and with the other she pulled 
the cloth back into place. 

“Mr. Carlton, you must not do that. Re- 
member the doctor’s orders,” she lisped, in a 
mandatory tone. 

He was startled by her action, as he did not 
dream that she was so near. His face turned 
red and he felt like a boy who has been caught 
at a keyhole, but would not lie about it. Then 
the humor of the situation struck him and he 
laughed. He fancied that he heard a little sup- 
pressed laugh from his nurse. 

“I will confess. Miss Smith, in spite of the 
humiliation, that I was slipping this hood down 
in order to get a look at you. I hope you will 
pardon my impertinence.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 169 


“If you will not repeat it/’ she replied. 

“Women generally are charged with, possess- 
ing the biggest bump of curiosity, but I confess 
that I am worse than a woman. You have been 
by my side for so many days that you can surely 
comprehend my desire to see the one to whose 
ministrations I am indebted for so much com- 
fort. ’ ’ 

“I am not censuring you for your curiosity. 
I am a nurse and am simply enforcing the doc- 
tor’s peremptory orders.” 

Just then Hudson appeared at the door. 

“I’ve got a bit of news fer ye, Bob. The 
deputies hev all gone back to the Springs, so the 
end of the strike looks as fur off as ever. ’ ’ 

“That does look pretty black. Jack,” he said, 
as Aleen left the room. 

“Say, Bob, old man, ef you wasn’t such a 
blame woman-hater, I’d think ye’d been spark- 
ing the nurse, eyes er no eyes.” 

“You are crazy, Jack. What do you mean?” 

“Her cheeks are as red as cherries an’ I 
can’t think of nuthin’ else so forcin’ to 
blushes.” 

“Well, that is pretty strong circumstantial 


170 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


evidence, Jack, but I plead not guilty, neverthe- 
less.” 

“Well, the court will admit that yer previous 
good character stands ye well in hand in this 
case, but if yer eyes wasn’t blindfolded, I be- 
lieve it’ud be a Scotch verdict. Guilty, but not 
proven!” 

“There you go again. Jack, trying to tempt 
me to disobey the doctor.” 

“Don’t ye do it. Bob. She’ll keep. She gets 
purtier every day and yer eyes ’ll need all their 
strength when they light on her.” 

The next day Aleen had about decided to let 
Robert see her, but a little chance conversation 
changed her plans. They were gradually be- 
coming better acquainted, and she talked more 
freely with him. When he heard her dainty 
footfalls and the rustle of her skirts at eight 
o’clock the next morning he was prompt with 
his greeting. 

“Good morning, Miss Smith.” 

“Good morning,” she answered meekly. 

“You are prompt in getting to your tread- 
mill,” he remarked, after she had straightened 
up the room with a few deft feminine touches 
and sat down beside him. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 171 


“Are not miners prompt when they go to 
their work?” 

“Yes, and more prompt when they leave it, 
but ladies are not usually so observant of 
rules. Is there any news?” he asked, wish- 
ing to hear her talk. 

“A man committed suicide in Cripple Creek 
last night.” 

“That is too bad. Why did he do it?” 

“It was a love-affair, they say.” 

“Love,” he mused, and after a moment’s 
thought he continued: “It is queer that love, 
the very air of heaven, causes so much grief 
on earth.” 

“It is queer,” she replied, assuming a tone 
of indifference, but she was all the time study- 
ing the expression on his face and wondering 
whether he ever thought of his old home and 
of her. He lay there in silence, and she 
watched the play of emotions as his counte- 
nance would light up and then settle down to 
an expression of gloom. She did not inter- 
rupt his meditations for some time, but her 
anxiety to know something of his true feelings 
led her to adopt a bold plan for drawing him 
out. 


172 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“You seem to speak from experience, Mr. 
Carlton. Pardon the question, but a nurse 
becomes interested in her patient, and I won- 
der if you have ever been in love.” Her face 
flushed and her voice wavered as she tried to 
conceal her great interest in his reply. She 
awaited breathlessly the response which she 
felt he could not avoid making. She knew 
that if he spoke at all, it would be the truth. 

“Yes, I must confess that I was once in love, 
Miss Smith,” he said, laying a slight stress 
on “once.” There was an awkward silence 
for a few minutes. She was not brave enough 
to ask him if he was still in love. She did not 
know how hard it is for a man to confess, even 
to himself, the present existence of a past pas- 
sion. Aleen was too much wrapped up in the 
problem to draw fine metaphysical distinc- 
tions. She forgot Eobert’s blinded condition 
and his absolute ignorance of her identity ; for- 
got that to him she was a stranger and that 
his reluctance to speak to a professional nurse 
of his love was proof positive that that love 
was still sacred to him. With all the unrea- 
sonableness of her youth and her sex, she de- 
clared to herself, “If he still loved me, he would 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 173 


confess it.” She mentally exaggerated the 
emphasis -on the word “once.” The more 
deep her love for him the greater the necessity 
for concealing it. For him to learn of her 
presence in Colorado and at his bedside would 
be humiliating to the last degree. He must 
never know. She was so disturbed that she did 
not continue the subject and as he seemed 
plunged in reverie, the rest of the morning 
passed in silence. 

In the afternoon the doctor called, and Aleen 
escaped to her room, as usual. 

“The doctor tells me that I may leave otf my 
blinders to-morrow,” he said cheerily, as 
Aleen re-entered the room. 

“I suppose you will be glad to regain your 
sight,” she answered, with regret in her looks 
which she strove to keep out of her voice. 

That day she went to Mr. McDonald and told 
him that she could not stay after the next noon, 
and asked him to arrange for a successor, if 
one was needed. 

As it was her last day, she thought she might 
curb Robert’s recklessness by giving him a 
little advice. 

“I heard your friend Jack remind you that 


174 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


the strikers would like to put you out of the 
way. I suppose that you will avoid them in 
the future.” 

“I see no reason for seeking trouble, nor 
for running away from it. If someone does 
not take a stand for law and order in this 
country, all of its wealth and progress will be 
wiped out in a short time.” 

'‘I am told that you addressed one of their 
meetings and opposed their views. That was 
rather foolish, wasn’t it?” 

“I expressed my opinion at a meeting called 
for the purpose of discussing the situation.” 

^‘AVhat happened?” she asked. 

“Oh, they did not like what I said and things 
got pretty warm.” 

“I think you had better avoid such gather- 
ings in the future, Mr. Carlton.” 

“Maybe you are right. I tried to open their 
eyes and they closed mine.” 

She went down to her mid-day meal not feel- 
ing that she had accomplished any permanent 
reformation in her patient. 

AVhen she returned to his room for the last 
time, she stepped softly to his bedside and ob- 
served his regular breathing for awhile. He 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 175 


seemed to be sleeping soundly. Sbe touched 
the bandage over his eyes. He did not move. 
She let her hand rest lightly on his cheek for 
a moment. 

Being thus so gently wooed into wakeful- 
ness, even his sincerity was not equal to the 
task. Perhaps it would be more just to say 
that his sincerity was the last of his faculties 
to awaken. At any rate, the sensation was so 
pleasant that he breathed on as regularly as 
though he was still unconscious. 

She slowly leaned over, and holding her 
breath, softly touched her lips to his cheek. 
Still his breathing was unchanged, but she 
imagined that she detected a slight color 
mounting to his forehead. 

“Good-bye, Mr. Carlton,” she said, taking 
his hand to awaken him. 

“What’s that? MTiat did you say?” he 
asked, rising to a sitting posture. 

“I am obliged to leave you. You are about 
recovered, and a man is in the office to take my 
place. ’ ’ 

“But I must see — ” He started to speak, 
and his hands went up to the fastening at the 
back of his head. 

“Mr. Carlton!” she screamed, as she caught 


176 BOB CAELTON, AMEEIOAN 


his hands in both of hers and the button shot 
from her mouth. “You must not take that ofi 
until the doctor comes.” 

He was too excited to notice her changed 
accent, and she gazed despairingly at the but- 
ton as it lay well out of her reach, as she stood 
clinging to his hands. Of course, he could not 
struggle with a girl, so he tried argument. 

“You say you are going?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“You have been taking excellent care of me 
for a good many days. I am deeply grateful 
to you, Miss Smith, but unless I am permitted 
to remove this cloth, I would not know you if 
we should meet in the street.” 

“Why do you wish to know me?” she asked, 
mumbling the words through half-opened lips. 

“Why do you wish to prevent it?” he counter- 
questioned. 

“Doctor’s orders,” she replied, and hearing 
his welcome footsteps in the hall, she ran out 
of the door. 

“Good-bye, Doctor,” Eobert heard her say, 
as he tore the bandage from his eyes. But he 
was too late, she had gone. 

“What’s up?” asked the doctor, seeing his 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 177 


patient sitting up in bed, blinking and waving 
the cloth. 

“I had a curiosity to see Miss Smith, and 
she said that I must not remove my bandage. 
I had made up my mind to disobey both of 
you, when you came into the room and she 
escaped.” 

“Ha, ha!” laughed the doctor. “It is just 
as well you didn’t. I have seen many a home- 
ly nurse land a patient in the bonds of matri- 
mony before he fully recovered his strength, 
and to withstand Miss Smith would require 
more vitality than most well men possess. 
Your eyes are greatly improved, but you had 
better start them on something less brilliant 
and gradually work up to Miss Smith.” 

Robert did not enjoy the joke and was tempt- 
ed to go after her. It was several days before 
his eyes could stand the clear, bright light of 
the mountains. As soon as he left his room 
he made inquiry for Miss Smith, but she had 
disappeared as mysteriously as she came, and 
no one could give him the slightest hint as to 
her identity, history or whereabouts. 


178 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XII 

A MUEDEE 

Robert and Pludson had completed the neces- 
sary work to procure patents on the Mountain 
Queen and Sylvanite lodes, when the strike was 
declared. In the confusion incidental to the 
labor troubles, a man named Zeb Hart located 
over their claims, using the same lines, and 
instituted adverse proceedings to prevent the 
issuance of their patents, contending that the 
essential preliminary work had not been per- 
formed. 

A few days after Robert’s recovery, Hudson 
rode old Jim over to see the conditions of the 
claims. Old Jim had been his companion dur- 
ing the vicissitudes of many years as a pros- 
pector. Sometimes he was a pack-horse and 
sometimes Jack rode him. "When Jack’s pick- 
ings were poor, Jim’s bill of fare was largely 
bunch-grass, but when his owner prospered, 
the horse shared in his prosperity and 
munched oats and corn. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 179 


As there was then no railroad around Crip- 
ple Creek, old Jim was a great convenience in 
riding over the mountain or to Victor. 

On this occasion the well-matched pair trav- 
eled around Gold Hill, north of Anaconda, and 
followed a thick growth of timber across 
Eaven Hill until they struck the Victor road, 
thinking thus to avoid the picket-lines of the 
strikers. As they came within sight of the 
claims, a man shouted from behind a tree : 

“Halt! and give the pass-word!” at the 
same time raising a gun. 

“I’m just going over here about twenty rods 
to see some claims,” answered Hudson, as he 
led Jim slowly along, not dreaming that the 
man would shoot. The rifle cracked and old 
Jim groaned, staggered and fell forward and 
then on his side. Hudson sprang from his 
back as he felt him sinking. 

“Now you git, or I’ll take a shot at you!” 
ordered the man. 

“If I had a gun, you’d never take another 
shot at nuthin’,” fumed Hudson, as he saw the 
comrade of so many years breathing his last. 

He walked around Jim until he saw the hole 
in his side a few inches behind the shoulder 


180 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


and knew that the wound was a fatal one. Sit- 
ting down on the ground, he lifted the horse’s 
head into his lap, rubbed his nose and talked 
to him. 

“Jim, I reckon we’ll have to part. I’d 
about as soon have taken that hunk o’ lead my- 
self as to see you get it. I rode ye into trouble, 
old boy. Poor old Jim! I ’lowed that next 
year there ’d be less work and better rations 
fer both of us if things come my way.” 

“Git back across the line!” called the man 
with the gun. 

“There, there, Jim, yer sufferin’ will soon 
be over. Ye’ve been a faithful helper when 
yer legs was strained and yer back sore from 
carryin’ a pack up a zig-zag trail. Ye hadn’t 
much to eat and nutliin’ to hope fer like I had. 
Don’t know but it’s selfish in me, wantin’ ye 
to live.” 

The old horse seemed to understand the tone 
if not the words. He allowed his head to rest 
quietly on his master’s lap, a shudder went 
through his frame and his sturdy old legs stif- 
fened. Hudson carefully closed his eyes and 
laid his head down on the ground, removing a 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 181 


little stick that would have roughened his 
primitive bier. 

“Say, you’d better be hikin’ thar or I’ll send 
you along with yer boss,” called the man. 

“Ye infernal coward, if ye’ll put down that 
gun and use the weapons God A ’mighty gin 
yer. I’ll hold still until ye take the first punch 
at me.” 

“You heard what I said. Stop yer palaver 
and git back the way you come,” and the man 
cocked his gun. 

Hudson took the bridle off of Jim and slowly 
threw it over his shoulder. 

“Oh, I’ll mosey all right, fer I think ye’re 
the kind of pup that ’ud rather shoot an un- 
armed man than not.” 

By this time the man with the gun had ap- 
proached near enough to be recognized. It 
was Zeb Hart, the man who had jumped their 
claims. Hudson had an impulse to try to get 
to him before he could pull the trigger, but 
decided that the attempt would be suicidal, 
and slowly walked down the moimtain-side 
nursing his wrath. 

When he reached home, he hung the bridle 
in the little board stable at the head of Jim’s 


182 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


stall. The dog followed him into the barn and 
snitfed around as though he missed his four- 
footed chum. 

“Well, Max, old Jim’s gone. You and I will 
have to go it alone from now on. It’ll he purty 
lonesome ’thout Jim.” 

The death of Jim was the last of a series of 
misfortunes that were making Hudson desper- 
ate. He had placed great hopes in the two 
claims, and saw in them an end to privations 
for his loved ones. When the litigation start- 
ed, he had no money with which to defend 
himself. There was no work at the mines, 
and being a “scab” he had no right to share 
in the meager bounty handed out to the strik- 
ers by the union. Now the loss of Jim at the 
hands of the man who was attacking his prop- 
erty-rights was maddening. Like many an- 
other man, he tried to drown his sorrow in 
drink, only to find that it floated serenely above 
the surface while only his self-respect was sub- 
merged. For the first time since his marriage, 
he commenced to frequent saloons. 

One day he did not appear for dinner and 
Robert went in search of him and found him 
staggering from one side of the walk to the 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 183 


other, with a despondent looking cigar dan- 
gling unlit from his loose lips. 

“Hello, Bob. How much farther is it to my 
shack?” 

“About five minutes’ walk, old man.” 

“Fer you or fer me?” 

‘ ‘ For both of us. Come, take my arm. ’ ’ 

“Wait a minute. Gimme a light.” 

Kobert struck a match and tried to hold it 
at the end of Hudson’s cigar, but it weaved 
about so irregularly that he could not make 
the connection at the rare intervals when Hud- 
son could draw without hiccoughing. 

“Bob, yer drunk. Ye can’t hold a match. 
I’m ashamed of ye.” 

Hudson tried it himself, but with no better 
success. He finally singed his beard, then took 
the cigar from his mouth, gazed at it in disgust 
until the match burned his other hand, and 
dropped both match and cigar into the gutter. 

“Mus’ be asbestos filler,” he stammered, 
taking Eobert’s arm. “Won’t ye have a drink 
’fore we go home?” 

“No, Jack, you know I do not drink, and you 
have had too many now.” 

“Ye ain’t prohibition, are ye. Bob?” 


184 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“Well, I am tempted to be by the sight of 
you.” 

“Did you ever stop to consider the question 
as to the constushnalty of the blamed thing!” 

“No, Jack, and I don’t believe this is a good 
time or place to settle the matter.” 

“Ye know, the constushun guarantees life, 
liberty, an’ pursuit o’ happiness. Pro’bishun 
prevents pursuit happiness.” 

“Drink may aid in the pursuit of happiness, 
but it never caught it that I know of.” 

“Tha’s where yer off. I felt mean’s thunder 
two hours ago. Now I’m happy as clam at 
high-tide. Ye don’t believe ’ut whiskey kills 
folks, do ye. Bob?” 

“No. I regret to say that it does not. Asa 
poison it is too slow to be of practical benefit. 
The curse about it is that it preserves a man 
physically oftentimes while killing him moral- 
ly.” 

“Yer gettin’ too deep fer me. Kin ye smell 
any liquor on me. Bob?” 

“You smell like a bar-room when they first 
open it in the morning.” 

“Then le’s go to the office. I do’ want Katie 
and the kids to know I was drinkin’.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 185 


They walked to the office, Hudson hanging 
onto Bob’s arm. 

“Guess I’ll take a snooze. Been out doors 
a good deal to-day an’ I’m sleepy,” and Hud- 
son essayed to hang his hat on a fly which he 
mistook for a nail, staggered into the back 
office and was soon snoring gutturally. 

Eobert had to attend court for several hours 
and when he returned Hudson had disap- 
peared. 

Thinking he had gone home, Eobert did not 
go in search of him, but worked at the office 
until a late hour. 

Hudson had awakened with a roller-towel in 
his mouth which later proved to be his tongue, 
and he proceeded promptly to the Eed Light 
saloon to find something to reduce the swell- 
ing. 

The interior of this well-known resort was 
furnished on one side with a row of roulette, 
faro and poker-tables, each of which was sur- 
rounded by gamblers and miners. The bar 
was in the center, and back of it were tables 
where men were smoking and drinking. A 
woman pounded a piano at intervals with more 


186 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


strength than skill, accompanied by the con- 
stant click of chips and glasses. 

Hudson walked past the gambling lay-outs 
and took a chair at a deserted drinking-table. 
He sat there alone with bowed head, brooding 
over his troubles. He was a living answer to 
his own argument anent the “pursuit of hap- 
piness.” 

He had taken but one drink and had decided 
to go home without taking another, when Zeb 
Hart walked into the saloon with two com- 
panions. Seeing Hudson and noting his be- 
fuddled condition, they sat down at the ad- 
joining table. Hudson felt that they were 
looking for trouble, but he had been forced to 
run away from Hart recently, and old Jim’s 
murder still rankled in his bosom. 

Hart and his companions began to shake 
dice for the drinks and were soon interspers- 
ing their conversation with jeers at Hudson. 

“I wonder where the old scab steals his 
money to liquor-up on?” said one. 

“He can’t stick a stake in this camp and 
hold it, hey, boys?” said Hart. 

“Sure not; it’s a pity he didn’t dig his shaft 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 187 


a leetle deeper,” remarked the other, and all 
three laughed. 

Hudson knew he must get out or fight. He 
clenched his fist around a heavy cane which 
he had picked up in Bob’s room that morning 
and started out. 

“Ye ought to seen him crawl last week when 
I shot his old plug.” 

Hudson closed the door, but paused irreso- 
lutely on the walk. The thought of all that 
Hart had done to him held him. Hart was 
trying to steal the claims by fraud and per- 
jury. Hart had wantonly killed old Jim with- 
out provocation. 

“Shall I let him drive me out like a dog? 
No, by God ! I’ll go back and fight the three of 
’em!” 

At this instant the door opened and Hart 
came out. 


188 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER Xm 

A STRANGE REUNION 

Aleen returned to her uncle’s house as soon 
as she left her patient. She parried her aunt’s 
questions regarding her outing by telling her 
how happy she was to be back in Cripple 
Creek. 

The morning after the events recorded in 
the previous chapter, Mr. Law took up the 
paper and glanced at the headlines. An ex- 
clamation of surprise escaped him. 

“What’s the matter?” asked Donald. “Any 
more trouble at the mines?” 

Mr. Law read from the paper: 

“Zeh Hart murdered hy Robert Carlton, a 
prominent attorney. 

“Last night about ten o’clock as Zeb Hart, 
a miner, came out of the Red Light saloon, he 
was struck over the head with a cane and died 
in twenty minutes, without regaining conscious- 
ness. Robert Carlton was arrested while 
standing over him with the cane in his hand. 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 189 


Carlton does not deny having struck the blow. 
He is enough of a lawyer to appreciate the 
value of silence in certain emergencies. He 
was taken to the jail at Colorado Springs and 
will be held without bail. The cause of the 
feud which terminated in last night’s tragedy 
is said to be some litigation over the Mountain 
Queen and Sylvanite claims. Carlton was one 
of the first locaters, and Hart is the man who 
jximped the claims. The adverse cases are to 
be tried at the next term of court. The de- 
ceased was a bad character, and Carlton has 
not the best reputation in the world. There 
was talk of preventing his admission to the bar 
some months ago because of a questionable 
check transaction in connection with a grub- 
stake case, but the matter was hushed up. If 
the net result is a claim-jumper killed and a 
crooked lawyer hung, the community will sur- 
vive the double blow.” 

Donald glanced at Aleen and saw that she 
was deadly pale. 

“What’s the matter, Aleen?” he asked, step- 
ping quickly to her side and supporting her 
with his arm. 

“What is it, child?” asked her frightened 


190 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


aunt. “Do you know either of the men mixed 
up in this trouble?” 

Aleen clasped her hands tightly together in 
an effort to calm herself. 

“Eobert Carlton was the best friend I ever 
had. I have known him and played with him 
since childhood. He is the noblest, best — oh, 
why didn’t I tell him I was here? This might 
not have happened. But I did not want him 
to think that I had come out here to see him. 
I will not be foolish any longer. I will go to 
him at once.” 

“But he is in jail at Colorado Springs,” re- 
monstrated her uncle. 

“Then I will visit him in jail!” she declared. 

“Come, my dear, don’t take it so hard,” said 
her uncle. “He may come out all right. He 
has some good friends in the district and I 
don’t believe they’d hang a man for killing a 
claim-jumper, anyhow.” 

Aleen rose, and her eyes flashed as she faced 
her astonished uncle. 

“He never killed him. Eobert would not 
hurt the meanest thing that crawls. And he 
shan’t be hung.” 

“Maybe not, but that’s a matter that can’t 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 191 


be prevented by tbe bravest girl in the moun- 
tains. ’ ’ 

“It can be prevented by me, and I mean to 
find a way to do it,” she cried, and she clenched 
her little fists as though she would fight judge 
and jury. 

“What can you do, child?” asked her aunt. 

“I do not know yet. The first thing I shall 
do will be to go to the jail and see him.” 

“You are excited, Aleen,” said her uncle. 
“Your father would be outraged if we per- 
mitted you to visit in jail a man charged with 
murder who does not even deny his guilt. It 
would be highly improper.” 

“What do I care for propriety when a hu- 
man life is at stake ? If our positions were re- 
versed, would he hesitate? No, and I shall 
not. I am going to Colorado Springs by the 
first train out of Victor. What times does it 
leave?” 

“The Victor stage leaves at nine and con- 
nects with the ten o’clock train for the 
Springs,” said Donald. 

“Then, Donald, see that it does not go with- 
out me,” and Aleen went to her room, packed 
her little hand-grip and hurried down to the 


192 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


stage-line, leaving her gasping but helpless 
aunt and uncle on the front porch. 

On reaching Colorado Springs she went di- 
rect to the jail and was told that she must have 
a permit from the sheriff before she could be 
admitted to Robert’s presence. 

The sheriff was quite astonished a few min- 
utes later when confronted by a pretty and de- 
termined-looking girl in modish attire. 

“Sheriff, I want to see Robert Carlton, who 
is in jail, charged with murder,” she said, in 
as brave a voice as she could muster. 

“I am sorry, Miss, but I cannot accommo- 
date you,” he answered. 

“Why not?” she asked, in her sweetest 
voice. 

“Because we permit no one to see a prisoner 
charged with a capital crime, except his law- 
yer. ’ ’ 

“Has he employed a lawyer?” 

“I think not. Are you a relative?” asked 
the sheriff, half -guessing the source of her in- 
terest. 

“No, I am not,” she answered, her face 
flushing, “but I have known him all my life. I 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 193 


know he is not guilty, and no amount of evi- 
dence could shake my confidence in him.” 

“I guess they wouldn’t take you on the 
jury,” was the sheriff’s smiling comment. “He 
does not deny his guilt, and he was found 
standing over the dead man with the cane in 
his hand with which the murder was committed. 
He waived preliminary examination before a 
justice of the peace this morning and was put 
in my charge until the next session of the dis- 
trict court. Mighty sorry for you. Miss, for I 
like his looks, but things seem pretty black for 
him right now.” 

“He is not guilty,” she declared, “and if 
he is keeping still, it is to shield someone else.” 

“That doesn’t seem possible, Miss.” 

“You do not know him. It would be impos- 
sible with most men, but entirely in keeping 
with Bo — , with Mr. Carlton’s character. So 
you refuse to allow the only friend he has in 
the town to visit him?” 

“I’m mighty sorry, but the rules of the of- 
fice—” 

“Who makes the rules?” she interrupted. 

“I do,” he admitted meekly. 

“Then, I am sure you do not make them 


194 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


just to be spiteful. You make them to prevent 
the escape of prisoners by connivance from the 
outside. You may search me before I go in, 
and your jailer can watch me every minute 
while I talk to the prisoner. I couldn’t carry 
him away, could I?” 

“Well, I’ve seen as big men as he is carried 
away by smaller women than you,” said the 
smiling sheriff. 

Aleen followed up her advantage. 

“If you have talked with him five minutes, 
you know he would not walk out of the jail until 
he is exonerated, not even if you left the door 
open. ’ ’ 

“What is your name?” asked the sheriff, 
after thinking a moment. 

“Aleen Hilliard.” 

“Where do you live?” 

“In Chicago, but I am stopping with my 
uncle, Joseph Law, in Cripple Creek.” 

“Well, I suppose I am an old fool, but I’ll 
take a chance on you,” said he, taking his pen 
and writing the order. 

“Thank you very much for your kindness. 
Has any search been made for any other pos- 
sible perpetrator of this crime?” she asked. 


BOB CAKLTON, AMERICAN 195 


“What’s the use? He was there. He had 
the stick. He does not deny his guilt. I wish 
that all of the eases were as plain.” 

She looked him squarely in the face and her 
eyes snapped. 

“Sheriff, you will apologize some day for 
feeling that way,” was all she said as she 
walked out. 

In passing the window of the sheriff’s office, 
she heard a deputy remark, ‘ ‘ Gosh, it ’s the fust 
time I ever heard of a woman trying to get a 
feller out of trouble.” 

On the way to the jail she thought of her 
previous determination never to let Robert 
know of her presence in the mountains. But 
of what consequence were her feelings when 
his life was in jeopardy? 

“Bob has never said he was guilty. He has 
just kept still. He cannot lie to me. I will 
hear the truth from his own lips,” she mentally 
declared. 

“I thought you’d fetch him,” grinned the 
jailer when she presented her order. He con- 
ducted her through the jail to the cell in which 
Robert was confined. He stood at the side 
of the cell with one hand against the bars and 


196 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


his head leaning on his hand. He was fatigued 
after the inward turmoil of the night before 
and dazed by the problem that pressed upon 
him. He did not hear any one approaching. 

When he looked around he saw a man and a 
woman in the corridor. He did not recognize 
the woman. 

“Bob, it is Aleen,” she said. 

“Aleen! Impossible!” but he grasped her 
little hands pushed between the bars and knew 
that it was warm, pulsing flesh and blood that 
he held and not a vision of disordered fancy. 
He gazed long into her brimming eyes to re- 
assure himself that it was really Aleen. 

“But, Aleen, why are you here in this 
place ? ” he asked, in a distressed voice. 

“I came to get you out.” 

His face brightened. He stroked her hand 
gently as he thought how easily he could free 
himself by a word. He lived in that paradise 
for only a moment, then his face saddened 
again, and he dropped her hand. 

“Tell me why you are here. Bob?” said 
Aleen. 

He hesitated. How could he deceive her? 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 197 


Yet if he told all, Hudson would be appre- 
hended. 

“Bob, why don’t you answer me?” 

“You have read the papers, Aleen. Why go 
over the matter again?” 

“Yes, but I have not read your side of the 
storj"" in the papers, so it would not be going 
over it again.” 

“My story would not be interesting, Aleen.” 

“It would be interesting and it would be 
true, if you told it. Bob. You never told a lie 
in your life, and you never killed a man, 
either.” 

His heart seemed to stop in his throat as she 
declared her faith in him. 

She held his hand to prevent his turning 
away from her, but she could not make him 
look at her. His glance constantly sought the 
side of the cell. He feared that one look at 
her trusting, tearful eyes would dissolve all of 
his resolution. When looking at her, Hudson, 
his family and the whole world were in eclipse. 

“Look at me. Bob,” she commanded. “Tell 
me who killed Hart, and why you are here.” 

He raised his eyes to hers and saw in them 
more love than he had ever hoped for. They 


198 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


told a story whicli torture could not have tom 
from her lips unsought. For a moment the 
secret trembled in his throat. Her persuasion 
almost prevailed. Never had man such a prob- 
lem, he firmly believed. On the one hand he 
could try to convince the girl whom he so dearly 
loved that he was guilty of the worst crime in 
the whole category; on the other, he could tell 
the truth and hand over to justice the man who 
had reached a helping hand to him in the mo- 
ment of his greatest need and had been his 
loyal friend on every occasion, and consign to 
poverty and disgrace the innocent and helpless 
members of Hudson’s family. He did not hesi- 
tate long. A look of resignation came over his 
face. 

“As Hart came out of the saloon, he was 
struck with a cane. I was found standing over 
him with that cane in my hand. I will say no 
more.” 

“Why did you kill him?” 

Thinking that she was becoming convinced, 
he continued: 

“Hart had jumped two claims in which I 
was interested. He was offensive in his man- 
ner and boastful regarding his crooked work.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 199 


A ray of light from a new direction struck 
Aleen. 

“Who else was interested in those claims!” 

“A prospector. You would not know him.” 

“Probably not. What are your plans, 
Bob?” 

‘ ‘ I have no plans, xlleen. I am just awaiting 
the action of the court.” 

Again he had withdrawn his hand from hers, 
but she extended her hand through the bars in 
mute appeal in order to keep him near her. 

“Bob, dear Bob, you had nothing to do with 
that murder. You are shielding some guilty 
person whom you love. That has always been 
your way. It will not be hard to find out who 
is your closest friend. I will find him.” 

She spoke slowly and emphasized each word 
with a determination familiar to Robert. 

“Aleen, please do not mix up in this affair. 
You can do nothing.” 

“We shall see,” she persisted. 

“Aleen, you must drop it. Let’s talk about 
something pleasant. How long have you been 
in Colorado?” 

“Answer my questions, first. Bob. They are 


200 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


more important. Who is your partner in those 
claims?” 

“I appreciate your loyalty, dear girl, but 
you can do me no good and you must not com- 
promise yourself by coming here again.” 

“All right, I will go. There is not much 
danger of my calling with great frequency. I 
had to fight my way to you this time.” 

He clasped both her hands in his. He might 
never see her again until he was brought into 
open court. His look seemed to say, “I can- 
not let you go.” 

“I shan’t give you up, Bob. I’ve just com- 
menced to fight, and I will fight the whole 
world, including yourself, to prove your inno- 
cence.” 

“Time’s up!” said the jailer. 

Their hand-clasp tightened involuntarily. He 
dared not look her in the eyes, but clung to 
her hand. 

“Good-bye, dear Bob,” she said, in a half- 
whisper. 

Then his hold gradually relaxed and he 
turned away to hide the tears that would not be 
restrained. She saw his breast rise with a 
choking sob, as his hands fell to his side. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 201 


‘‘Sorry, Miss, but I’ve stretched the limit 
now,” said the kind-hearted jailer. 

“Remember, Bob, I shall be working and 
praying every minute that I am away from 
you, ’ ’ she said confidently as she went out. 

He sank on the edge of his cot with his head 
in his hands. He felt that he had made the 
supreme sacrifice. He took from his innermost 
vest-pocket the little lock of hair which had 
been restored to him by the sentimental sheriff 
after he had been searched. He pressed it to 
his lips and murmured, “Aleen.” The big, 
strong man who had bested the champion pugi- 
list of the district and defied the powers of 
organized labor, went down at the first twang 
of cupid’s bow. 

His love for her, which he had struggled 
against for years, was not dead, but sleeping. 
More than that, she had revealed to him uncon- 
sciously, an equal love. This glimpse of heaven 
was vouchsafed to him for a moment, only to 
he darkened immediately by the thought that 
he could never enter the promised land. He 
lay there for an hour fighting the battle be- 
tween love and duty. He arose, weakened in 
body, but stronger than ever in his resolve to 


202 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


do the right as he saw it, and to leave the issue 
with God. 

The sun shone through the bars in the win- 
dow of the corridor and made a checker-board 
of light and shadow on the floor. He tried to 
peer out and see the life whose sounds reached 
him faintly from the sidewalk. The sunlight 
seemed brighter than he had ever known it in 
the days of his freedom. He started when he 
realized that he had only been there one day. 
It seemed a lifetime. He heard the sound of 
laughter from some happy pedestrian. A troop 
of children went noisily past. A cart rattled 
on the pavement. How gladly would he have 
changed places with the care-free driver. Free- 
dom was his birthright. Why could he not have 
it? He was convinced now that Aleen loved 
him. This made life doubly dear to him. Was 
not Aleen ’s innocent suffering as unjust as 
would be that of Hudson’s wife and children? 
The matter was entirely in his own hands. He 
would end it when the jailer came by sending 
for a notary and making a full statement. 

He tried to stop his argument at that point. 
He counted up to a hundred. He paced his 
cell in both directions and mentally figured its 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 203 


dimensions. He went over in his mind some 
old recitations of school-boy days. 

It was no use. His stubborn conscience kept 
demanding, “How about Jack? Where would 
you be if he had not reached his big, brawny 
hand out into the darkness and drawn you not 
only into his cabin but into his heart. Jack’s 
conditions are fixed. His family is a fact. Your 
relation to Aleen is a hypothetical one. She is 
young, and time will heal her wounds with 
scarcely a scar. If you deliver Jack to the 
hangman, there would be a group of skeletons 
at every feast and Aleen would one day despise 
the man who failed under the supreme test.” 

He could not do it. In his veins flowed the 
blood of a father who had taken the place of 
another in the front line of battle and who had 
returned home to a life of poverty, maimed; 
who had uncomplainingly taken up the struggle 
of life with one arm gone ; who had performed 
double duty with half equipment. Robert was 
ashamed of his momentary weakness. He 
could be a man only by keeping silent. He was 
resolved. 

While Robert was wrestling and prevailing, 
Aleen was equally busy outside. She was con- 


204 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


vinced that it was useless to appeal to the 
sheriff. His intensely practical mind moved 
in a small circle. The prisoner himself did not 
deny the crime and an officer of the law had 
too many real troubles in these parlous times 
without chasing moonbeams. The solution of 
the mystery must be sought nearer home, so 
she took the first train for Victor and returned 
to Cripple Creek by stage. 

Her theory was soon formed, and after the 
lead, which was opened when she was talking 
to Robert, the facts seemed obvious. Who else 
would have a grudge against Hart and who 
was Robert’s closest friend? If these two lines 
met, then the person who could so strongly link 
Robert to him must be some one worthy of 
great loyalty. Why then was he permitting 
this great sacrifice? There could be but one 
answer to that. He must have fled on the night 
of the crime and be somewhere in the track- 
less mountains, away from men and newspapers 
and ignorant of Robert’s plight. 

The world — this little world — had calmly ac- 
cepted Robert’s guilt because it had no concep- 
tion of his character. Why base theories on 
motives that only manifest themselves once in 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 205 


a thousand years? All believed Robert guilty. 
Many sympathized with him. A few would 
gladly have armed him and released him with 
instructions to kill every claim- jumper in camp. 
Only Aleen, with the keen eye of love, had dis- 
cerned the real facts. 

She would find the criminal and tell him the 
true situation. If necessary, she would search 
the world over for him. She would besiege the 
judge in chambers and the governor in the 
State house if by so doing she could save Rob- 
ert. She had no doubt as to the outcome. The 
only question was as to the quickest method of 
procedure. By the time she reached Victor, 
the whole plan was worked out in her mind — 
Robert was triumphantly freed; he was grate- 
ful to his preserver; he would return to Chi- 
cago with her — or would she stay in Colorado 
and help make him governor of the State? She 
had almost determined on the kind of rugs they 
would have in the front parlor by the time she 
arrived at her uncle’s. The selfish, careless, 
spoiled child of good fortune was transformed 
by the touch of love into a determined and fear- 
less champion. 


206 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XIV. 

ON THE TRAIL 

The next day Aleen went to Attorney Dow’s 
office and learned that the name of Robert’s 
partner in the disputed claims was Hudson and 
that he lived on Capitol Hill. She also ascer- 
tained that Robert had lived at Hudson’s house 
since he first came to Cripple Creek. All of 
these things pointed to Hudson’s guilt. If she 
found that Hudson had left the country re- 
cently, the chain would be complete. 

She had no trouble in finding the house, which 
was an unpainted cabin, almost too small to 
shelter a family. 

Mrs. Hudson responded to Aleen ’s knock. 
She was neatly clad in a calico dress and her 
hair was smoothly combed back from an hon- 
est, care-worn face, in which new lines seemed 
to have been imprinted recently. She did not 
at all resemble Aleen ’s idea of a criminal’s 
wife. 

“Does Mr. Hudson live here?” asked Aleen. 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 207 


“Yes,” answered Mrs. Hudson, trying to 
conceal the fright she felt at hearing such a 
query from a stranger. 

“I would like to see him.” 

Mrs. Hudson hesitated before answering, in 
a guarded manner: 

“He is not at home.” 

“When will he return?” 

“I do not know.” 

“Where is he?” asked Aleen, in an eager 
voice. 

“I cannot tell. He is prospecting, and never 
has definite plans.” 

Aleen was now convinced that Hudson was 
the man for whom she was looking. Mrs. Hud- 
son’s appealing appearance and the general 
air of respectability rather disconcerted her and 
changed her original plan of going direct to 
the authorities with her story. She concluded 
to take time for deliberation, so she bade Mrs. 
Hudson good day and returned to her uncle’s. 

After several hours of deep thought, Aleen 
concluded that Mrs. Hudson knew the where- 
abouts of her husband and that the fairest way 
would be to give him an opportunity to return 


208 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


voluntarily after lie was informed of Bob’s 
arrest. 

That night Aleen watched the little house 
from the opposite side of the dark street. She 
hoped to get some clew to Hudson’s hiding- 
place, and even thought he might possibly come 
back for a visit to his family, imder the shelter 
of darkness. 

As there were no signs of life outside of the 
cabin, she ventured nearer. There was a small 
hole in the curtain at the front window. The 
street was deserted, so she tip-toed to the aper- 
ture and peeped in. She saw the two girls in 
their night dresses, both kneeling by the bed- 
side in prayer, while the mother knelt at a chair 
behind. She recognized the older girl as the 
one whose cause had been championed by Bob 
at the church trial, but Aleen had grown so big 
and strong morally in the last few days that 
this fact did not influence her. The smaller 
girl was about three years old and seemed more 
intent on watching her sister than on her devo- 
tions. The little one seemed to know that the 
prayers were unusually long, for she reached 
back and tugged at her mother’s sleeve while 
the sister arose and walked over to her side. 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 209 


They then discovered that their mother was 
crying and Aleen saw her wipe her eyes with 
her handkerchief. The little one toddled across 
to the table and took from it a soiled photo- 
graph and crept into bed with it in her hand. 
She lay there looking at it until her mother 
tucked her in and kissed her good-night, when 
she reluctantly surrendered it. Prom there, 
Aleen saw Mrs. Hudson go to the other bed and 
sit on the side of it as she stroked her older 
daughter’s hair and seemed to be attempting to 
console her. Then the mother went into the 
other room. 

Aleen returned to the sidewalk. So this was 
the family on which she was about to descend 
as an avenging angel. Had she the courage 
to ask this devoted mother to surrender the 
father of her children to the operation of the 
law ? There was no other way to save Bob, and 
Bob must be saved. 

Wishing to see Mrs. Hudson alone, Aleen 
waited until she thought that the children would 
be asleep and walked up to the door. She 
rapped gently, and in a few minutes the door 
opened and revealed Mrs. Hudson, looking even 


210 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


more worried than in the morning. There were 
traces of tears on her cheeks. 

“I came to talk to you, Mrs. Hudson. May 
I come in?” she asked. 

“Certainly,” said the frightened woman, 
dreading the visit, but fearing still more the 
possibility of attracting attention if they lin- 
gered at the door. 

Aleen entered and took a chair. 

“Eobert Carlton lived here for sometime, did 
he not, Mrs. Hudson?” 

“Yes,” came the low answer. 

“My name is Aleen Hilliard. You know that 
Zeb Hart was killed the other night as he was 
coming out of a saloon. Bob was found stand- 
ing over him with a cane in his hand ; he did not 
deny his guilt, and he is in jail at Colorado 
Springs and will probably be hung unless some- 
thing is done. T have known him all of my 
life. He never did and never would harm any- 
one, except in self-defense. If he had killed 
Hart in self-defense he would say so. He is 
deeply attached to all of you. I believe he 
knows who killed Hart, and that he will die 
rather than tell. I believe your husband can 
clear up this matter, and would do so, if he could 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 211 


be reached. I saw you through the window as 
you knelt in prayer, and I want you to do what 
your Father in heaven would sanction, and help 
me save an innocent man.” 

Aleen almost lost courage as she saw the de- 
spairing look on Mrs. Hudson’s face. 

“Oh, my dear child, I know too well what 
God’s law bids me to do, but I know that man’s 
law would condemn my husband to a felon’s 
death.” 

“Maybe not. Bob will fight for him to the 
last ditch. But if some one must suffer, I will 
leave it to you. Should Bob be the one ? Your 
husband is ignorant of what has taken place 
since he left. What would he do, if he knew? 
Suppose that he does not learn the facts until 
after — ^until it is too late. Would he ever for- 
give you? Why not let me go to him and simply 
state the facts? I will give you my word to go 
alone and to leave with him the decision of 
Bob’s fate.” 

“I’ve thought of all that,” sobbed Mrs. Hud- 
son, “and I have prayed that something would 
prevent the punishment of either, but — She 
broke down completely. 


212 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Aleen read her thoughts and pitied her from 
the bottom of her heart. 

“Does Mr. Hudson know that Bob is in jail 
and is keeping still to shield him?” 

“No, no! If he did, he — oh, please do not 
ask me any more. I cannot answer. ” 

“Tell me where Mr. Hudson is. I will tell 
no one. I will go to him and tell him of Bob’s 
action. Think of an innocent man suffering for 
someone else. Think of what your husband 
will say.” 

Seeing the look of anguish on Mrs. Hudson’s 
face, she sank on her knees and buried her face 
in her hands. 

“Save him, save him. Tell me where I can 
find your husband,” 

Then the instinct of a wife and mother told 
Mrs. Hudson that the distracted girl before her 
was pleading for the man she loved. She took 
Aleen ’s hands in hers. 

“Will you promise me, dearie, that you will 
tell no one where he is, or cause him to be ar- 
rested if he refuses to return with you?” asked 
Mrs. Hudson, trying to read Aleen’s very soul 
through her eyes. 

“I promise,” said Aleen, for she felt that the 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 213 


man who had inspired such devotion in Bob 
wonld not hesitate when she told him the facts. 

Mrs. Hudson continued: 

“Alas! I have no hope of his refusing to 
come back when he learns that Bob is in jail. 
It’s the same thing as sending an officer for 
him.” 

“Well, if you know what he would do, you 
surely know what he would wish you to do. I 
am confident that no one will suffer from doing 
the right thing,” said Aleen, though she was 
not deceived by her own sophistry, and could 
conceive of no escape for Hudson if he gave 
himself up. 

“You have given your word to go to him 
alone. I will tell you where to find him,” said 
Mrs. Hudson. “He left here intending to go 
to the MTiite river country, in the western part 
of the State.” 

‘ ‘ When did he leave ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ The night Hart was killed. ’ ’ 

“Then I was right. He does not know of 
Bob’s arrest.” 

“If he had, he would not have gone.” 

“IVhy did he go to the White river ?” 

“Because, he said, there was plenty of game 


214 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


and few settlers there, and if he escaped cap- 
ture he could take us out there with him. ’ ’ 

“How did he go?” 

“He figured on walking. He took his dog 
and rifle with him, but I do not know which 
trail he followed. Oh, remember you promised 
not to have him arrested, ’ ’ said the grief-strick- 
en woman. “ If he is ever hung, I will not live 
to see it.” 

‘ ‘ I will find him and tell him what Bob is do- 
ing and leave the rest to him,” Aleen assured 
her. 

“I wish I could go with you, but I cannot 
leave the children. I must stay and keep a 
home for them. I will pray that he may be 
saved. If you knew what a good man he is, you 
would feel sorry for him, I know.” 

“I do feel sorry for him, and I will do all I 
can to save him and so will Bob. How shall I 
know Mr. Hudson if I find him?” 

“He has a full beard, is a little lame in his 
right leg, and has a notch in his right ear, cut 
by a bullet, poor Jack.” 

“Is his name Jack?” asked Aleen, “and did 
he frequently go to Victor to see Bob while his 
eyes were being treated?” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 215 


“Yes.” 

“Then I know him. I shall arrange to go out 
there and look for him. I shall strike straight 
for White river, as you do not know which route 
he took, and I could not hope to intercept him. 
How long would it take him to go?” 

“About a week, I think. The countiy out 
there was very wild when we were there, many 
years ago, but I understand that the Indians 
have been transferred since. Will you go 
alone ? ’ ’ 

“Didn’t I promise you that I would? I am 
not afraid. I could not take any one along with- 
out disclosing facts that I have promised not to 
divulge. It is getting late. I must go. Pray 
for all of us,” and Aleen kissed the weeping 
woman good-bye. 

On her way home, she met Donald. 

“Well, Aleen, where have you been hiding? 
I have been around several blocks looking for 
you.” 

“I have been to see a friend of Bob’s to get 
evidence for him.” 

“You’re a brick, all right. I don’t under- 
stand Carlton. I can’t see why he did it.” 


216 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“He did not do it, Don, and you must not say 
that again,” said Aleen, firmly. 

The next morning she studied the map of 
Colorado and made herself familiar with the 
location of White river. She found that 
Afeeker was a small station on the river, and 
that Rifle was the nearest railway point. She 
explained to her aunt and uncle that she was 
going to Rifle to see someone in regard to Bob ’s 
case, and proceeded to make the necessary ar- 
rangements. She was familiar with the use of 
firearms and could both look and shoot in the 
same direction, so she bought a revolver for 
protection. 

Three days later she arrived at Rifle and 
hired a broncho from a rancher on which she 
started for Aleeker. The trail led through a 
valley, with high mountains on either side. She 
passed but two cabins, and she began to imder- 
stand how wisely Hudson had chosen his re- 
treat. There was small chance of detection in 
sxich a sparsely-settled country. She was very 
tired at noon and took a long rest. She learned 
from a passing hunter, laden with deer hides, 
that she was on the road to Meeker. 

As the afternoon waned, she was so tired of 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 217 


riding that she permitted her horse to walk 
most of the time. At every elevation she ex- 
pected to see Meeker from its summit. A herd 
of deer, about twenty in number, crossed the 
road and trotted into the woods, looking back 
at her as they disappeared. A little later she 
noticed that the shadows were growing longer, 
and she urged her horse into a lope until it be- 
came dark, but still Meeker was not in sight. 

On coming to a fork in the road, she could 
not see which was the more traveled way, but 
chose the one that she thought led in the de- 
sired direction. She watched on every side for 
some sign of habitation. It was growing 
cloudy and the growling of a mountain thunder- 
storm could be heard in the distance. She 
feared that she would have to stay out all night 
and receive a drenching besides, when to her 
joy, she saw a light ahead of her. She had no 
notion of what sort of people she might en- 
counter, but she had little choice in the matter, 
and rode straight for the beacon. 


218 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XV 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 

The light shone from a little log-cabin. The 
sound of horse’s hoofs caught the alert ear of 
its solitary inhabitant. He came to the door, 
candle in hand. He wore a blue, flannel shirt, 
adorned at the throat with a flaming bandanna 
handkerchief and his corduroy trousers were 
tucked into high boots. He had removed his 
leather coat and wide-brimmed sombrero for 
comfort, but his heavy spurs jingled at each 
step. 

“Is this the road to Meeker?” asked Aleen. 

“No, Miss, you got off the Meeker road about 
three mile back.” 

“How far is it to Meeker?” she inquired, 
looking over his shoulder in the hope of seeing 
a woman. 

“It’^ about eight mile, if you take the trail 
across to the Meeker road. If you go back to 
the fork, it’s ten mile.” 

“Is the White river near here?” 



“ ‘Is this the road to Meeker?’ ” 






1 




» 

t 

1 

1 


' • I 

4 

4 



BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 219 


‘ ‘ Yes, only two mile. ’ ’ 

“Have you a family or anyone else in your 
cabin? Could I stay all night? I don’t believe 
I could find the road, and the weather looks 
threatening. ’ ’ 

The man grinned as he said ; 

“Haven’t got no family, but there’s two 
rooms in the shack, and you can have one of 
’em if you want to stay. It’s likely to rain, 
and you don’t look as if you’d stand much wet- 
tin’.” 

While Aleen was debating in her mind the 
question of which was the greater danger, with- 
in or without, several coyotes began to yelp 
in the distance. Her fears magnified their 
number to a hundred. She felt in the front 
of her dress to assure herself that her revolver 
was still there and decided to stay. 

“I am thoroughly tired and will accept your 
kind offer.” 

“Get off the horse and come in, and I’ll lead 
him around to the stable.” 

Aleen entered and took the only chair; the 
rest of the furniture in the room consisted of a 
kitchen-table, a pan-cake griddle resting on a 
small stove, some very cloudy tin dishes and 


220 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


a basin in which some batter reposed, ferment- 
ing for the next morning’s breakfast. 

The man soon returned, and Aleen noticed 
that he was very dark and had small, beady 
eyes and long, straight, black hair. 

“What is your name?” she asked, in order 
partially to dissolve the constraint incidental 
to such an unusual meeting. 

“Corona, Miss.” 

“What do you do out here for a living?” 

“Takin’ keer of a bunch of cattle. Guess 
you’re hungry. Like pancakes?” he asked, as 
he pushed the griddle to the front of the stove. 

“No, thank you, I had a late lunch.” 

“Ain’t much of a cook, but if you was hun- 
gry ’nough, you could eat ’em,” and he pro- 
ceeded to prepare a supper, glancing at Aleen 
with great frequency. He sliced some bacon, 
placed it in the griddle and when it was fried 
he transferred it to a tin-plate and used the 
grease in making the cakes. He warmed up 
some coffee that was standing in the pot and 
the bacon, cakes and coffee constituted his 
meal. 

“Have you seen a hunter camping along the 
White river recently?” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 221 


“What fer lookin’ feller?” 

Aleen described Hudson as well as she could. 

“I saw him down the river to-day.” 

“How far from here?” she asked, anxiously. 

“ ’Bout three miles east, where the creek 
empties in.” 

“Did he have a dog?” 

“Yes.” 

“Oh! I wonder if I could find him to-night?” 

“Couldn’t find nothin’ to-night.” 

“Was he camping where you saw him?” 

“Not much camp. He had hind-quarters of 
a deer hanging on a tree and a dead fire.” 

There was a pause. 

“Father?” asked Corona. 

“No, he is no relation.” 

There was another drop in the conversation. 
The man’s looks were becoming so frequent 
and so fraught with meaning that Aleen again 
broke the silence. 

“How long have you lived here?” she asked. 

“Seven year.” 

“Did the Indians ever bother you?” 

“No, I’m part Injun myself. My mother 
was a squaw and my father was one of Co- 
loroe’s men. Soldiers killed him.” 


222 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


Aleen wished herself on the road again. But 
by this time she could hear the rain pouring 
down. She walked to the door which sepa- 
rated the two rooms. To her great relief, she 
saw that it had a bolt on the inside. 

“Is this to be my room for the night?” 

“Yes, Miss.” 

“May I have a light?” 

“Sure,” and he held the neck of a beer- 
bottle over the flame until it was warm, then 
took a fresh candle, pushed it into the bottle 
and handed it to her. After bolting the door 
on the inside, she sat for a long while on the 
edge of her cot without undressing and lis- 
tened to every footstep of her host. She heard 
him leave the cabin. He was gone about half 
an hour, and when he returned he made a bed 
on the floor. Aleen soon heard him breathing 
heavily, and with a sigh of relief, made prepa- 
rations for retiring. She was very tired and 
was soon sleeping soundly, lulled by the pat- 
ter of the rain and the diminishing fumble of 
the retreating thunder. She was awakened 
by the sun pouring in at her bed-room window. 
When she opened the door the odor of frying 
venison greeted her. Corona had washed him- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 223 


self until lie was several shades lighter than 
on the previous night, but his attempts at 
adornment only increased Aleen’s fears. His 
Indian features and his little, glittering eyes 
were more repulsive than by candle-light. 

“Good morning, lady,” he said, as Aleen 
stepped into the front room. He showed her 
a bench, by the side of the cabin, where there 
was some cold spring water and a towel and 
basin. The effect of the cold water and the 
brisk rubbing enhanced her beauty. When she 
re-entered the cabin, her conquest of Corona 
was complete. 

“I would like to pay you for my lodging, and 
then I must go, if you will kindly get my 
horse. ’ ’ 

“I have cooked some venison for you.” 

As he evidently had prepared an especial 
bill of fare in her honor, she thought it wiser 
not to anger him by declining to eat. Besides, 
the odor was very enticing, and she had eaten 
nothing since her luncheon the day before. She 
sat down opposite him and proceeded to taste 
the food. Hunger proved an excellent season- 
ing, and she would have enjoyed the meal 


224 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


greatly but for tbe increasing fervor of bis 
constant gaze. 

This half-breed had lived for years in the 
mountains and had grown to manhood without 
seeing a woman more frequently than once or 
twice a year. Aleen had said more to him in 
a few hours than he had ever heard from 
female lips in the whole course of his life. Her 
well-meant efforts to divert his attention by 
conversation had only increased the spell by 
which she held him. His innate animal nature 
would have hungered at the sight of a woman 
of his own kind. Imagine, if you can, the effect 
of hours spent in the presence of a girl so 
radiant in her charms as Aleen. The poor 
devil was in a whirlwind of unreasoning fas- 
cination. Every waking thought had been 
charged with the problem of how to detain her 
in his cabin. 

“How much do I owe you?” she asked, ris- 
ing from the table. 

“Nothing, lady.” 

“There is a dollar, and I want my horse at 
once,” she said imperiously, as she placed a 
coin beside her plate and walked out. 

Corona went to the stable and soon returned. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 225 


“Your horse is gone, lady. He broke his 
halter,” he said, holding up a fragment of a 
strap. 

“Gone,” she repeated, endeavoring to com- 
pose herself, as an inkling of his intentions 
dawned upon her. She walked up and down 
for a few moments trying to think of some 
means of escape. She longed for Bob just about 
five minutes, but she did not regret her course, 
nor was she badly frightened. She cautious- 
ly passed her hand over her waist and was re- 
assured. 

The revolver was safe, and she could use it 
either on him or herself did the emergency de- 
mand it. 

“Let me hire one of your horses for the day. 
I will pay you well for it.” 

“Can’t do it, lady. The bay is a bucker and 
the black is lame. Ned, the black one, is the 
best horse west of the Rockies, and if you will 
stay a day or two he will get well and you can 
take him.” 

“No. It is only a few miles farther. I will 
walk.” 

“Stay until I try to find your horse.” 


226 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“I will pay you well if you find Mm, but if 
you do not I will go on foot.” 

“Maybe I can track him,” be suggested, go- 
ing to the barn. He soon emerged, leading 
the bay horse and carrying a halter. Aleen 
sat down on a log and watched him ride away 
to the north and down the valley. She had 
come from the south and he had chosen the 
direction which would intercept her if she tried 
to reach White river. 

After riding half a mile, he disappeared 
around the brow of a hill. Aleen was confi- 
dent that he was not looking for her horse. 
She walked up the foot-path to a point from 
which she could see him, sitting on a stone, 
rolling a cigarette, while the bay horse was 
tethered near him. The place which he had 
selected for his siesta was admirably adapted 
for its other purpose — that of a sentry-box. 
Seated there he could see the valley in both 
directions. She returned to the barn, busily 
devising a plan to outwit him. She was confi- 
dent that he was playing with her as a cat does 
with a mouse, and that on his return to the 
cabin his pent-up passions would break their 
bounds. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 227 


In the stable she found Ned, the black horse. 
Her examination of him revealed no sign of 
lameness. Her saddle was hanging on the 
wall, but no bridle was in sight. She had no- 
ticed a cowboy’s suit hanging in the cabin, 
discarded by Corona that morning in favor of 
his best garb, which he had donned in the hope 
of dazzling her. She carried it to the barn 
and soon made the transformation before the 
mildly inquiring eye of Ned. She rolled her 
clothes in as small a bundle as possible and 
proceeded to saddle the horse. She cinched 
the girth as snugly as her strength permitted 
and tied her bundle behind the saddle. So far, 
so good. Corona would never recognize her, 
but his cowboy instinct would identify his own 
pony a mile away. She hesitated a moment 
and then laughed to herself as she thought of 
a disguise for Ned. Returning to the house 
she brought back a pan of buckwheat flour. 
This when properly moistened adhered to the 
horse’s sides. With a few deft applications 
of the broom, the astonished Ned was changed 
from a black to a gray roan. 

“It isn’t as good as peroxide, Ned, but it is 


228 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


quicker. It’s your first hal de poudre, old nag, 
isn’t it?” 

Improvising a rope-bridle, sbe led bim out 
of tbe barn, and taking with ber a stout whip, 
wbicb sbe picked up near bis stall, sbe was 
soon on bis back and out in tbe road. Tbe 
borse was perfectly sound. Corona bad lied 
wben be said be was lame. Had be also lied 
when be said that Ned was tbe fastest borse 
in tbe neighborhood? Time would tell. 

Aleen started bim off at a canter, and soon 
rode boldly out in full view of the man sitting 
on the knoll. 

Sbe followed tbe small stream down the val- 
ley at a pace wbicb soon changed Ned’s dis- 
guise into dough. On reaching the river, sbe 
decided to look for Hudson at tbe place where 
be was seen tbe day before. Sbe realized tbe 
urgent necessity for finding bim as soon as 
possible. Corona would return to tbe cabin 
and miss both bis pony and bis prisoner. 

There was a heavy growth of timber along 
the river-bank, and sbe rode slowly looking 
for traces of Hudson. It was afternoon wben 
sbe came across the ashes of bis camp-fire and 
a small pile of gnawed venison bones. Tbe 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 229 


indications at tliis place all pointed down- 
stream, so she remounted and started back 
over the ground which she had so recently 
traversed. 

She forced the pony into as rapid a canter 
as the circumstances permitted and reached 
the mouth of the small stream as soon as pos- 
sible. Alas ! she was a few minutes late. As 
she came to the creek she saw her pursuer on 
the opposite bank, only a few rods away. 

He recognized her at once and spurred his 
horse into the stream. Aleen started her pony 
up-stream, made a detour, hoping to throw 
him otf the trail, and again whipped and 
coaxed the black pony into a gallop. She 
leaned forward in the saddle and urged him 
with voice and bridle. He responded with all 
the energy that remained in him after an ex- 
hausting morning. The race was on ! Her ex- 
perience in tearing on horseback through the 
Illinois woods, equipped her for this critical 
hour. She was alert in avoiding low branches 
and keen in her judgment as to the endurance 
of her mount. She recognized that with Ned 
the whip was not needed so long as he could 
keep going, and she reserved it for the last 


230 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


great emergency. She kept a cool head, and 
realized that Corona had not overstated the 
staying qualities of the black pony. But for 
his efforts of the morning, he would have 
shown the bay a clear pair of heels. As it 
was, the race bid fair to be a close one. 

"VAHien they rounded the first curve of the 
river, Corona had gained a little on her. Aleen 
patted her pony on the neck and whispered: 

“Go on, Ned, go on,” and he responded to 
the appeal in her voice. Her sombrero flew 
off, and her hair-pins rattled out, letting her 
glorious hair fall over her shoulders or stream 
back of her. The sight only increased the 
ardor of her pursuer. Both horses were now 
on a dead run. They frequently encountered 
a fallen log, and in every case Ned took the 
leap like a steeple-chaser. 

At the next turn Aleen saw that she was 
holding her own, and that Corona was wildly 
lashing the bay. She hoped, by reserving her 
pony’s strength, to outwind the larger horse. 
She had not yet used the whip. 

They came to rougher ground. The chan- 
nel of the river had changed, leaving many 
dry gullies, over which the horses were obliged 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 231 


to go carefully. Aleen did not hurry Ned at 
this place, and when she reached the level 
again, she saw that Corona was only a few 
rods behind. Though Ned was puffing, she 
felt that she must bring the whip into play. 
She struck him a resounding whack. “Go 
on!” she screamed. 

His ears went back and his feet fairly flew 
for the next half-mile, but with little change 
in the distance between the two horses. The 
next glimpse she caught of Corona showed her 
that he had loosened his lariat and was al- 
most near enough to throw it. Again she 
struck her pony and again he responded, but 
this time less vigorously. She could hear 
Corona beating the sides of the bay with the 
lariat. She was holding her own, however, 
when Ned stumbled. She managed to keep 
him from falling, but in doing so, his speed 
was checked considerably. Aleen saw the rope 
curl through the air and past her shoulder. 
Corona was no novice with the lariat, and Ned 
ran his head into the noose without touching 
an ear. He was stopped so suddenly that she 
lurched forward onto the pommel of her sad- 
dle. Corona’s horse was standing with stif- 


232 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


fened legs, awaiting liis master’s instructions. 
Both horses were panting for breath. 

“Will you give up now?” he gasped. 

Aleen’s face was sufficient answer. The 
dreadful emergency called all her reserve- 
force of mind and body into action. She drew 
the revolver from the front of her skirt. Co- 
rona saw its glitter and ducked behind his 
horse’s neck. But Aleen had no intention of 
killing man or beast if it could be avoided. 
She placed the muzzle close to the rope and 
severed it at a single shot. 

“Now, Ned, go it!” she cried, turning his 
nose down the river. Corona again saw his 
captive eluding him on the better horse. He 
pulled in the lariat and lashed his horse once 
more. Again they glided along, each horse’s 
head projecting like that of a grey-hound. 
Aleen replaced the revolver, resolving to keep 
up the race until she came up with Hudson or 
until one of the horses dropped. If Ned 
should prove the weaker animal, she would kill 
Corona before he could reach her. 

There seemed little doubt now as to the out- 
come. Ned was slowly gaining on the bay, and 
Corona’s frantic lashings were of little avail. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 233 


It was clear that he could not last another mile 
when an unforeseen incident occurred. 

Aleen’s horse caught its foot in a training 
vine and was down in an instant. With a cry 
of joy Corona saw her whirl over the head of 
her mount. Her revolver dropped from her 
bosom and she lay stunned a dozen feet away 
from her last hope of salvation. 

“Ah!” he cried. “It’s over at last.” 

He rode his half-dead horse up to her side 
and sprang down. 

“Hello, partner! What’s the fuss?” called 
a voice from the woods, and a man with a 
limp in his right leg stepped into the trail, 
carrying a rifle and followed by a dog. 

Aleen, in dazed condition, did not recognize 
her rescuer. She gasped: “Save me from 
this man.” 

Her voice told him for the first time that it 
was a girl and not a cowboy who lay in the 
dust at his feet. 

“Derned if I wan’t fooled on both of ye. 
I thought it was two men, an’ one’s a gal an’ 
the other is a blamed coyote.” 

“Don’t let him touch me.” 

“Touch ye, honey? Ye’re as safe as if ye 


234 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


was in your mother’s arms. But how in 
the—?” 

Aleen by this time had gathered her scat- 
tered senses together and recognized the new- 
comer. 

“Oh! You are Mr. Hudson. Thank God, 
I am safe !” and she arose and went over to his 
side, picking up her revolver as she went. 

“Ye’ve got a leetle the best o’ me, gal,” he 
said, smiling at her upturned face. Then turn- 
ing to the cowboy, he asked: 

“What are ye chasin’ this gal fer?” 

“She goes back with me; she stole my 
pony. ’ ’ 

“Don’t be skeered, Miss. Ye ain’t goin’. 
Who are ye, anyhow?” 

“My name is Aleen Hilliard. I am a friend 
of Bob Carlton.” 

“Bob Carlton?” he said, reaching for her 
hand. “Then ye’re my friend. Push over 
this way closer,” and as she unhesitatingly 
nestled at his side he looked down at the ham- 
mer of his gun and then at Corona. 

“Don’t let him worry ye. Miss. He’s harm- 
less, so long as I keep awake. Tell me about 
it.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 235 


She told him of her trip tip the valley; her 
night at the cabin; the disappearance of her 
horse; the cowboy’s pretended search for him 
and of her escape in disguise and on his horse. 

“Well, ye’re shore a brave gal. What’s 
your side of the case?” he asked, turning to 
Corona. 

‘ ‘ She stole my horse, and I am going to take 
them both back.” 

“Now, don’t talk foolish,” said Hudson, 
looking him in the face. “She could hev licked 
ye alone an’ she ain’t no worse off fer my help. 
What’s yer name, Injun?” 

“Tom Corona.” 

“Mexican?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“An’ yer ma was a Ute squaw, I reckon.” 

“How did you know?” 

“I know the cross, an’ beggin’ yore pardon. 
Miss, it’s a derned bad ’un. Well, Mr. Coro- 
na, yer application is denied, and we’ll hold 
yer hoss fer the costs. No appeal from this 
court.” 

The man arose and walked toward Aleen 
with clenched fists. 


236 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“Wlio are you to make laws for me?” he 
growled. 

Hudson cocked his gun and raised it towards 
his shoulder, 

“Hands off the gal, ye greaser, or there’ll 
be a funeral here an’ you’ll be present ’thout 
bearin’ the singin’. Take the bay boss an’ 
pull yer freight. Ye’re gittin’ off easy. If ye 
don’t bring the gal’s boss back here by to- 
morrow mornin’. I’ll come after it and you 
know what that’ll mean. It’ll be the same 
funeral only nearer home. Now hike!” 

“You got the drop on me, but I’ll git you 
some day,” muttered the man. He turned to 
his horse and noticed for the first time that it 
was lying flat on the ground. He walked up 
and kicked the prostrate body. 

“Dead!” he said with an oath, and started 
toward the horse Aleen had ridden. 

“Here, shy off thar!” called Hudson. 

“Let him ride Ned, if he will promise to 
bring my pony here to-morrow. It is a long 
way back to his cabin,” suggested Aleen. 

‘ ‘ I wouldn ’t bank much on his promise. Miss, 
but it’s the quickest way to git shot of him. 
Here, you, if ye’ll bring the gal’s horse and 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 237 


outfit here by to-morrow, we’ll loan ye the 
black. We will hold the saddle until ye git 
back. If ye don’t come, I’ll tell a few of the 
boys about yer hoss-stealin’ an’ gal-chasin’ 
an’ you know what kind of a pendulum they’ll 
make outen you, I reckon.” 

“She has my clothes on.” 

“Ye can hev them, too, when you bring back 
the hoss. Reckon she couldn’t use ’em at 
home. ’ ’ 

Corona rode up the river without making 
any reply. 

“Now, gal,” Hudson began, turning to 
Aleen. “By thunder, ain’t ye Miss Smith, 
Bob’s purty nurse?” he asked, looking at her 
in surprise. 

“My name is not Smith, but I used it when 
I was taking care of Bob, because I did not 
want him to know me. And I would rather 
he did not know of that episode until he hears 
it from me.” 

“That’s natural. An’ ye never let him clap 
his eyes on ye. Ye certainly kept a secret 
fer once, ef ye are a gal. Now, tell me what 
ye’re doin’ out here!” 

‘ ‘ I will. About two weeks ago a man named 


238 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Zeb Hart was killed by a blow on the head with 
a cane. Bob Carlton was found near the body, 
cane in hand, and did not deny the crime. He 
was arrested on a charge of murder, and is 
now in jail.” 

“Oh, gal, ye don’t mean it. Bob Carlton 
ain’t in jail?” 

“Yes, and he is making no defense. I have 
known him since childhood and he has been 
punished often for the sins of other people, 
but has never revealed the guilty person. He 
was whipped once until his back bled for a 
misdemeanor of mine, and I let him stand it. 
But I was young and selfish then, and I have 
a keener sense of justice now. I saw him 
since they put him in jail, and he even tried to 
convince me that he killed Hart. But I know 
he is trying to shield someone.” 

“Why don’t he deny it?” 

“Because he would die to save you and your 
family, Mr. Hudson,” answered Aleen, study- 
ing his face to see if there were any signs of 
denial in it. Seeing his frank, unmoved ex- 
pression, she continued: “What effect would 
his denial have unless he told all that he knows. 
He must have been near the scene at the time 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 239 


of the murder. He was found standing over 
Hart with the cane in his hand. If he had 
spoken the truth they would have been after 
you before this. To clear himself, he must 
implicate you, and he will never do it. He is 
not that kind of a man. I learned that Hart 
had jumped a claim belonging to Bob and you, 
and that led me to go and see your wife. As 
soon as I saw her, I knew that you, and not 
Bob, killed Hart. She did not tell me. She 
did not need to. Her face is too honest to 
act a lie. I went to see her again in the even- 
ing and played eavesdropper at her window. 
I saw her and the children praying for your 
safety. Then I knew what a good woman she 
is and how she would struggle to protect you. 
My heart bled for her, but I could not let Bob 
be hung, so I plead with her to tell me where 
you were. I promised to tell no one and to 
leave the question of your return entirely in 
your hands. Everyone in Cripple Creek thinks 
Bob did it. The sheriff refuses to look any 
further into the matter. He laughed at me 
for asserting Bob’s innocence when Bob re- 
fused to deny his guilt.” 

Hudson listened intently until she finished. 


240 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


Then he looked at the ground for some time, 
without speaking. 

“Ye’re a brave gal to come out here in the 
wilderness to hunt me. I reckon ye’re purty 
tired and hungry.” 

“Yes, I am hungry, and a little tired.” 

“I’ll walk down the river a-piece to whar 
I’ve got some grub cached an’ git some stuff 
fer supper. Ye kin make yer twilight while I 
am gone an’ kin rest on that arterwards,” he 
said, spreading the skin of a mountain-lion on 
the ground. He then picked up his rifle, and 
whistling to Max, walked down the river. 

No one will ever know the battle which this 
primitive man fought with himself in the lone- 
ly woods. He had not admitted his guilt. He 
had made no promise to return. But Aleen 
went about the work of re-transforming her- 
self, without the shadow of a doubt as to his 
final decision. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 241 


CHAPTER XVI 

THE BACKWARD TRAIL 

After Aleen had exchanged the cowboy’s 
suit for her own costume, she lay on the lion- 
skin for about an hour, awaiting Hudson’s 
return. 

When he came back, with some provisions 
for supper, his first work was to build a camp- 
fire. He worked without speaking for awhile, 
and Aleen lay watching him. Finally he broke 
the silence. 

“When will Bob be tried?” he asked. 

“His case will be called at the next term of 
court, but I do not believe he will even ask for 
a trial. I think he will plead guilty. The 
court sits in about ten days, at Colorado 
Springs.” 

He nodded his head and walked over to the 
tree where some venison was hanging, and 
deftly slicing off a portion, soon had it cook- 
ing over the fire. This, with corn-cakes and 
coffee, made up the bill of fare, and the blend- 


242 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


ed aroma added the finishing touches to Aleen’s 
appetite. She ate heartily and said but little 
during the meal. She was wise enough to 
know that any attempt to revive the one sub- 
ject uppermost in the minds of both would 
indicate a doubt on her part as to his decision. 
She did not propose to weaken his self-respect 
by any such implication. 

After they had eaten, Hudson brought her 
a sleeping-bag, made by sewing two deer-skins 
together. 

“When yer ready fer bed. Miss Hilliard, 
crawl inter this bag. ’Tain’t no bed of roses, 
but it’s soft and warm. If ye hear any ani- 
mals howlin’ around, don’t let that worry ye. 
They won’t come near the fire. • 

“The skins look very inviting, but I do not 
want to take your bed,” protested Aleen. 

“Never you mind. You’re company, and 
that’s my spare bed. The ground is soft to 
an old-stager like me. I’m used to it. I only 
made that bag yesterday, expectin’ to be here 
fer a spell. If I had to lug it around much 
I’d soon chuck it into the discard.” 

Hudson proceeded to fix the fire for the 
night, and Aleen snuggled up in her deer-skin 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 243 


couch. She watched the low shadows made 
by the flames for awhile, but soon fell asleep. 
When the howling wolves awakened her seve- 
ral hours later, Hudson was pacing back and 
forth, on the opposite side of the fire, which 
had burned so low that he could not see that 
she had opened her eyes. After walking thus 
for sometime, she saw him kneel down by a 
stump and with clasped hands, raise his eyes 
to the tree-tops as though he were looking for 
help from above. Then she heard him utter- 
ing a disconnected plea to the Father of all, 
pausing frequently as the problem became too 
involved for his meagre powers of expression. 

“Oh, God, I can’t tell you anything — You 
know how it happened — You know how I was 
pestered — an’ drunk — an’ you know better ’n 
I kin tell you the kind of a critter I killed — 
but I wish he’d killed me instead — I don’t ask 
ye to help me decide — I’ve done made up my 
mind — Boh must be saved — but can’t ye fix 
it to save the innocent? Why should Katie 
an’ the kids suffer fer it? — That ain’t right — 
If ye kin only dump it all on me, here and 
hereafter, and make it light fer them — I could 
end it here — ^but that wouldn’t help Bob and 


244 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


would leave tlie gal out here alone. Oh, God, 
I only see one way an’ that’s a mighty rough 
one — I must hang fer it and leave my wife 
and kids in poverty and disgrace — a murder- 
er’s family — objects of pity and charity — I 
don’t know how to pray, but you know every- 
thing better ’n I kin tell you. Save the inno- 
cent from sufferin’ fer the guilty,” and he 
broke into sobs. 

His dog, Max, knew that some unusual sor- 
row was racking his master, and he stood de- 
jectedly as his side and occasionally licked his 
hand. 

The tears rolled from Aleen’s eyes as she 
witnessed the scene. 

Again the wolves began to yelp, and Hud- 
son arose and resumed his pacing before the 
fire. Then she heard a twig break and saw 
Hudson pick up his gun and pull back the 
hammer. 

“Come out of that, greaser, er I’ll plug yer 
nigh side thet’s stickin’ out in plain sight,” 
called Hudson. 

“Put down your gun. I’ll come out,” re- 
plied a voice, and Corona stepped into the 
circle of light made by the embers. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 245 


“I brought back her horse,” he said dog- 
gedly. 

“Ye was mighty still about it. It’s safer 
to ring a bell before you walk into this camp 
at night than to tip-toe frum tree to tree. I’m 
liable to shoot fust an’ find out my mistake 
arterwards.” 

“Is that her?” asked Corona, pointing to 
the dark bimdle on the other side of the fire. 

“That’s nothin’ but deer, Injun. Don’t ask 
too many questions. What you don’t know 
can’t hurt ye.” 

“What is she to you?” 

“She’s a heap more to me than she’ll ever 
be to you,” said Jack. 

“I could have killed you from behind that 
tree,” said Corona. 

“That wouldn’t have been much loss except 
to the gal, but since ye overlooked yer chance, 
I’m goin’ to keep on livin’ long enough to get 
her on ten the woods. You’d better make up 
yer mind to fergit her and go back to your 
shack. She’s as fur out of yore reach as a 
clean conscience. She ain’t in your class nor 
mine, neither. There’s yer clothes. Must ye 


246 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“Maybe you’re right. She is a beautiful 
woman. What is she doing here!” 

“Well, now, Injun, I hate to make ye jeal- 
ous, but she came out here arter me,” chuckled 
Jack. 

“Bah!” grunted the half-breed, as he picked 
up the bundle and slouched off into the dark- 
ness. Hudson followed him a short distance 
and saw that he took the up-river trail. Aleen 
was asleep when he returned, and when she 
awoke the sun was shining and Hudson was 
adjusting the coffee-pot on two stones above 
the bed of coals. 

“Good mornin’, Miss. Did ye sleep well!” 

“Yes, thank you. Did you!” 

“Yes, I kept warm. As soon as ye’re ready, 
we’ll eat breakfast so’s to git an early start.” 

“You are going back with me!” she asked, 
her eyes full of tears. 

“What else kin I do. Miss! It means end- 
less pain and sufferin’ to my family, God help 
’em, but Bob’s such an obstinate cuss, he’ll 
shore hang if I don’t.” 

Aleen could hardly speak. 

“God will bless you for going and will help 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 247 


you, I am sure. Besides, Bob and I will stand 
by you.” 

“If you can do suthin’ to soften things fer 
Katie and the kids, that’s all I ask. I deserve 
all I git, but they don’t.” 

Aleen brooded over the problem until she 
was so despondent that Hudson became the 
consoler. He had made up his mind, and after 
breakfast packed up his few belongings and 
tied them on behind the saddle. 

“How will we get to Eifle with only one 
horse?” she asked. 

‘ ‘ Oh, I kin walk there in two days easy with 
nuthin’ but my gun to carry,” he replied. 

“You must let me walk part of the time.” 

“No, I am used to it,” and he helped her 
into the saddle and they started on the return 
trip, he walking by her side while Max darted 
into and out of the timber, sniffing for game. 

Hudson knew the road well. They reached 
a camping-place near a cold spring of clear 
water a little after noon and by dusk they had 
accomplished more than half the distance to 
Eifle. 

When Aleen awoke the next morning, her 
nostrils were greeted by the familiar odor of 


248 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


their somewhat limited cuisine. Hudson was 
sitting before the fire, waiting for her. 

“Why did you not waken me?” she asked, 
rubbing her eyes and sniffing the savory blend 
of bacon and fresh “woodsy” air. 

“Thought a wink or two of extry sleep 
wouldn’t hurt ye. Ye’re bearin’ up ’cause 
of the excitement. A little sleep’ll kind o’ 
taper you down an’ lessen the reaction.” 

“You surely need more rest than I do. You 
have been walking while I rode all of the way. 
Will we get to Rifle to-day?” 

“We’ve got to, and git out of thar to-night. 
It’ll be easy. We’re better ’n half-way, and 
past the meanest part. ’ ’ 

Hudson limped from an old injury to his 
knee, but he covered ground at a speed that a 
younger man, unused to the trail, would have 
found difficult to equal. He seemed in a hurry 
to reach the fate awaiting him and to release 
Robert from his unmerited imprisonment. 
Several times Aleen asked him to ride, but 
he always refused, assuring her that he was 
not tired and that for her to walk would delay 
their progress and possibly cause them to miss 
the train. It was nearly dark when they 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 249 


reached the depot in Eifle and learned that 
there would be an east-bound train in about 
an hour. 


250 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


CHAPTER XVII 

AN EXCHANGE OF PEISONEBS 

‘ ‘ Please do not tell Bob that I went after you 
or that I was his nurse in Victor,” said Aleen, 
as she and Hudson walked from the stage to 
his house the next day. 

“Just as you say, Miss, but he shore ought 
to know it. However, I’ll leave it to unravel 
itself ’thout buttin’ in. Ye’re certainly payin’ 
him handsome fer that lickin’ he tuck fer ye.” 

Mrs. Hudson and Lizzie met them at the 
gate and he took them both in his arms. 

“Oh, Jack, I was afraid — I mean, I knew 
you would come back,” sobbed his wife. 
“MTiat can we do?” 

“Fust thing to do is to go in ’fore the neigh- 
bors git to talkin’.” 

“Now,” he said, when they were all in the 
little room, “there ain’t nuthin’ to do but give 
myself up. I need all the nerve I’ve got an’ 
ye’ll have to help me all ye can by bein’ brave.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 251 


“Papa, we must save you in some way,” 
said Lizzie. 

“Can’t change the law, little girl,” he said, 
while mother and daughter each gripped a 
hand as though they would not let him go. 

Baby Katherine came toddling from the 
other room and gurgled with joy as she saw 
Hudson. 

“Dada, take baby,” she cooed. 

“Ye bet dada will take his baby. Wish I 
cud take ye with me, honey. No, blessed if 
I do,” he said, as he recalled his destination 
and his face darkened. 

“I must get the stage at eleven o’clock fer 
Victor an’ ketch the train fer the Springs, but 
I couldn’t do it ’thout seein’ ye all,” said Hud- 
son. 

“Oh, Jack, not to-day! Stay at home one 
night,” said his wife, as she fell, rather than 
knelt, by his chair, holding one of his hands in 
hers, while her head drooped over his patched 
and r-usty knees. Lizzie added her tearful plea 
to that of her mother. 

“No, Katie, one more night here fer me 
means one more night in jail fer Bob.” 

“Mr. Hudson, one more night would make 


252 BOB CAKLTON, AMEEIOAN 


little difference to him, in view of your great 
sacrifice,” suggested Aleen. 

“Beg yer pardon, Miss, but ye seem to liev 
got the sacrifices mixed. Bob’s the feller that’s 
sufferin’ wrongfully. Besides, the longer T 
stay, the harder it ’ud be fer all of us when I 
finally went.” 

“We can’t give you up,” sobbed wife and 
daughter. 

“I’ve never been much account to ye, Katie. 
It’s mighty little I’ve ever done fer ye but love 
ye. As a pervider, I’ve been a failure.” 

“You have made me very happy. Jack,” and 
she kissed his rough hands. 

“Katie, I’ve led ye a rough chase over these 
Rockies, but it’s been my hope by day an’ 
dream by night that some day I’d make a strike 
and treat ye like ye deserved; but one man 
kin see ’bout as fer as another into a rock an’ 
when I found an ore-shoot I never had money 
enough or sense enough to hang onto it. Fer 
myself, I didn’t keer. I kin sleep on the rocks 
and find food in the air. I had jest about 
made up my mind that our troubles was over 
when Hart jumped the claims. That started 
me drinkin’ an’ when he follered me out of 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 253 


the saloon an’ gloated over my misery, I reck- 
on I went plum crazy.” 

“We know it was done in a passion, Papa,” 
said Lizzie. 

“That’s it, child. It’s yer Pa’s bad temper 
that caused it. Ye deserve a better man than 
me, Katie, an’ it’s little loss I’ll be to you or 
the community. If I only had somethin’ to 
leave ye, some life insurance or somethin’.” 

“I wouldn’t want it. Jack. I would not take 
a million dollars for one day of your life.” 

“That’s yer love talkin’, Katie, an’ I like 
to hear it. But the million would be a heap 
better friend to ye than I’ve been. I’ve 
brought ye nothin’ but hard work, poverty an’ 
half rations, sweetened a little with love.” 

“I had sooner have poverty with your love. 
Jack, than be a queen without it,” responded 
his wife. 

“If I’d ha’ been any good, Katie, you might 
have had the love without the trouble. They 
don’t have to go together. Give me the fiddle, 
Lizzie, and let me play a farewell tune.” 

Lizzie handed him the violin, and with Aleen 
and his sad family group around him, he played 
“Nearer, My God, to Thee.” The sobs of 


254 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Ms wife and daughter, in which by this time 
Aleen freely joined, made a melancholy accom- 
paniment to the music. His wife remained 
sitting on the floor, with her hand on his knees, 
while her slight body was racked with grief. 
He continued to play the air and his eyes closed 
as his soul entered into and was lifted up by 
the sentiment of the song. The pathetic strains 
of the violin voiced his heartfelt prayer to 
heaven more effectively than the most eloquent 
words. 

He played until their first great grief had 
spent itself and, amid a more trusting silence, 
he placed the instrument on the table and said, 
“Well, I must be going.” 

“Dada, take baby,” said little Katherine, as 
she saw his preparations for departure. He 
lifted her in his arms and kissed her again 
and again, endeavoring to hide from her baby 
eyes the unusual sight of tears on his weather- 
beaten face. 

“Wait, Jack, until to-morrow,” said his 
wife, clinging to him with both hands. 

“It won’t be no easier to-morrow, Katie,” 
he declared, putting little Katherine upon the 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 255 

floor and placing Ms arms around Ms wife and 
Lizzie. 

“I never loved you so much in my life as I 
do now, Jack,” said Mrs. Hudson. 

He made two or tM'ee ineffectual attempts 
to swallow tlie lump in his throat, and it was 
several moments before he could speak a word. 
Hearing a sob from his daughter, he turned to 
her: 

“Come, come, Lizzie, this ain’t no way to 
help your mother; think of her and not of me; 
remember the few good things yer father’s 
done and fergit the bad ones. The world’s 
gittin’ better every day, and it won’t be no 
worse fer my gettin’ out of it. I’ll be happy 
whichever place I go to, if I can only be sure 
that them I left behind is bein’ pervided fer, 
and is livin’ lives that’ll help wipe out the blot 
I’ve made.” 

Max came up and thrust his nose into Hud- 
son’s hand and wagged his tail in expectation 
of a caress. 

“Good-bye, Max; you and me have made 
merry around many a camp-fire. Ye always 
paid yer way, and if ye hadn’t, yer company 
was wuth yer keep. I never let yer go hungry. 


256 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


’cept when I was myself. Take good keer of 
him, Lizzie.” 

Max licked the rough hand of his master 
and looked up with that trustful expression of 
loyalty, which makes the dog so superior to his 
biped associates. 

“Oh, Jack, I wish I could go with you. I 
can’t live without you,” sobbed his wife. 

“If I’ve got to go, Katie, ye’ll come to me 
sometime, and I’ll be watchin’ fer ye, and I’ll 
try to be more of a help to ye than I’ve been in 
this life. I don’t believe we’d want to come 
back to so many troubles if we could. There 
ain’t no claim-jumpers over thar an’ the ore- 
shoot won’t dip away from us, ner pinch out 
on us. As fer as punishment goes in the next 
world, Katie, I’m guessin’ that God has col- 
lected a good deal of my dues in advance. I 
wouldn’t ’a lasted much longer, anyway, and 
the law won’t git much ahead of nature in my 
case. Ef ye can only fergit how I died and not 
worry none over disgrace that don’t belong to 
ye, ye’ll be all right. Now, good-bye, my 
dears,” he said, cheerfully, and kissed his fam- 
ily again as though he feared the effect of fur- 
ther importunities upon his resolution. His 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 257 


wife and Lizzie clung to him, and he was 
obliged to unclasp their hands and fairly run 
out of the gate, leaving them sobbing on each 
others’ shoulders, while little Katherine peeked 
with a perplexed scowl through the pickets and 
Max looked disconsolately from one member 
of the group to the other. 

Aleen remained long enough to assist them 
in putting the cabin to rights, then gave them 
a supply of money from an imaginary fund 
which she assured them belonged to Hudson. 

On arriving at Colorado Springs, Jack went 
straight to the jail. 

“Are ye the proprietor o’ this boardin’- 
house?” he asked of the man at the door. 

“Yes, I am the jailer.” 

“ Yer the chap I’m lookin’ fer. Have ye got 
a boarder by the name of Bob Carlton?” 

“I have.” 

“Well, ye’ve got the wrong feller. I killed 
Zeb Hart and Bob took a fool notion that he 
would try to save me and my family from fak- 
in’ the punishment and disgrace fer it.” 

The imperturbable face of the jailer took on 
a look of surprise. 

“Wait a minute, I guess I’ll have to take 


258 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


that kind of slow. Are you trying to tell me 
that you killed Zeb Hart and got away and 
then came back to be hung for it?” 

“I mean to say that I killed Zeb Hart and 
I come to have Bob Carlton turned loose, be- 
cause he’s innocent. He can’t pay no penalty 
fer my sins. As fer bangin’ we’ll cross that 
bridge when we git to it.” 

“Well, this beats my time. I’ve seen some 
pretty hard fights made to git out of jail, but 
this is the first time I’ve ever had two men 
clamoring for a position at the end of the same 
rope. If you want to take Carlton’s place, you 
must see the sheriff. My orders are to keep 
Carlton, and I’m not accepting substitutes with- 
out proper credentials.” 

“Where kin I find the sheriff?” asked Jack. 

“At his office, in the courthouse.” 

“I’ll be right back,” he said, starting down 
the street. “Don’t tell Carlton until I see 
him.” 

Reaching the sheriff’s office, Hudson ac- 
costed the man at the desk. 

“Are ye the sheriff?” 

“I am. What can I do for you?” 

“My name is Jack Hudson, and I came to 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 259 


take the place of Bob Carlton, one of yer pris- 
oners. I’m the feller that struck Zeb Hart that 
night with my cane; Bob took it away from 
me and told me to dig out. I didn’t have no idea 
that he planned to take my punishment or I 
wouldn’t ’a skipped. When I found out what 
he was up to, I come back.” 

The sheriff looked at Hudson in astonish- 
ment. 

“Do you know the penalty for murder in 
Colorado I ’ ’ 

“I’ve hearn it’s hanging, but if it’s anything 
worse that’s all the more reason why I could 
take it instead of Bob. If it was some little 
punishment like going to jail fer a few months 
I might be able to squar’ things afterwards 
with him fer takin’ my place, but if I let him 
hang fer me, I never could pay him back, here 
or hereafter, fer we shore wouldn’t go to the 
same place.” 

The sheriff went to the vault and brought out 
a heavy walking-stick. 

“Did you ever see that before?” 

Hudson took it in his hand, and after looking 
at it carefully, said, “That’s my cane. I cut 


260 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


it on Raven Hill the day Hart shot my ole hoss, 
Jim, from under me.” 

‘ ‘ Is that the cane with which you struck 
Hart?” 

“It shore is, sheriff. I’m mighty sorry to 
say it, but I was ragin’ mad and a little the 
worse fer liquor when he follered me out of 
the Red Light saloon and taunted me about 
my claim, what he jumped. I hit him just 
oncet with that stick. Bob must ha’ been corn- 
in’ arter me, fer he grabbed it out of my hands 
and told me to skip. I went around back of 
the saloon and took a short-cut home. I told 
my wife what had happened, and she went up- 
town to see how bad Hart was hurt. She heerd 
someone say he was dead. She came back to 
our cabin and coaxed me to run away by tollin’ 
me that it would kill her and the children if I 
was hung, so I hiked out fer the White river 
country, as much to spare them as to save my- 
self. I hadn’t no notion that Bob would be 
suspected, and didn’t know he was in jail ’till 
the other day. As soon as I heard about it I 
took the back-trail and except fer a few min- 
utes’ visit with the family, I came straight to 
the Springs to give myself up. I guess that’s 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 261 


the hull story, sheriff, so will you kindly turn 
him loose and put me in his place?” 

The sheriff stood with both hands plunged 
into his trousers’ pockets, looking the picture 
of amazement, while this confession was being 
made. 

‘ ‘ So you have come here to put your head in 
the noose in place of Carlton, have you?” 

“Well, yes, that’s one way of putting it. Why 
should I let an innocent man suffer fer me?” 

“Well, you do beat the record,” said the 
sheriff, staring at him as though he doubted 
the evidence of his senses. “If I am to lock 
you up and release Carlton it will be necessary 
to swear out a warrant for your arrest, and ask 
the judge to order Carlton’s release on his own 
recognizance until court convenes, at which 
time the prosecuting attoimey can enter a nolle 
pros in the matter.” 

“That looks like a heap of red tape over a 
simple proposition. Why can’t me and Bob 
jest swap places after what I’ve told you? Do 
you think I’d lie to git a chance to be hung? I 
ain’t that fond of notoriety. I ain’t had noth- 
ing to eat since morning, and I’d like to sample 


262 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


some of yer jail grub, though I’m pretty sure it 
ain’t up to home cooking.” 

The sheriff called his deputy into the office. 
“Tell the district attorney to come over here. 
Have him bring his stenographer. We’ve got 
an unusual case on hand this morning.” 

The district attorney and his aid soon ap- 
peared, and Hudson told his story again, and it 
was taken down in shorthand. The lawyer 
watched Jack during the recital, and it was evi- 
dent from his attitude and expression that he 
had little relish for the performance of his duty 
in the case. 

“This is certainly without precedent,” de- 
clared the attorney. “If you are speaking the 
truth, and I can imagine no motive for your 
doing otherwise, we have two men in custody, 
either of whom is willing to go to the gallows 
to save the other. I’ll draw an order for the 
release of Carlton on his own recognizance, 
and take it to the judge with this confession as 
soon as it is signed, and I presume that there 
will be no delay in liberating Carlton. I will 
make out a warrant for you to arrest John 
Hndson, on the charge of murder.” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 263 


“It’s about as hard to break into jail as it is 
to break out,” remarked Hudson. 

“It would be easy enough to put you in jail, 
but your principal purpose in giving yourself 
up is to free Carlton, and that cannot be ac- 
complished without going through a few pre- 
liminaries,” said the sheriff. 

“What’s this recognizance business? Ain’t 
the law satisfied with hangin’ me? Why not 
let Carlton- out of it without so much monkey- 
business?” 

“The monhej^’-business, as you call it, will 
not delay matters to amount to anything, and 
all of these moves are essential for the protec- 
tion of society. He must give a bond until the 
case against him is formally dismissed; but he 
will be accepted as his own bondsman, so you 
see that it is a mere formality,” explained the 
district attorney. 

“Fix it up to suit yourselves,” said Hudson, 
“but take all the short cuts that the law al- 
lows.” 

The stenographer announced that the papers 
were ready for signature, and the warrant was 
signed and handed to the sheriff. 

“Come, Mr. Hudson,” said that functionary. 


264 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“we will go over to the jail and make the swap, 
as you call it, providing wings do not sprout on 
you and you fly away before we get there. It 
strikes me that they must already he starting, 
for you are certainly acting more angelic than 
human in the matter.” 

“I ain’t never noticed so much as a pin- 
feather, sheriff, but I’d shore grow horns if I 
kept still and left Bob in jail.” 

The prisoner walked down the street with- 
out handcuffs and followed the sheriff through 
the jail until they came to Robert’s cell. 

“Hello, Bob, I jest heerd what ye was up to 
an’ I’ve come to block yer little game,” said 
Hudson, with an air of forced bravado. 

“Oh, Jack! Why are you here?” exclaimed 
Robert. 

“I’d never have left here if I’d knowed what 
ye was up to. Bob, and I come back as soon as 
I heern about it.” 

Robert stood looking at him, speechless, 
Avhile the jailer unlocked the cell. 

“Jack, Jack, you have spoiled everything.” 

“No use kickin’ now, Bob. I’ve made a clean 
breast of it. They made me swar to it in two 
or three places ’fore they’d let me in their 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 265 


blamed old jail. You didn’t suppose I’d stay 
out in the tall timber after knowing what ye 
was doing, did ye? I couldn’t do that, not 
even to save Katie and the kids, and ye know 
I’d do most anything to keep them from suf- 
fering. ’ ’ 

“He has made a full confession,” said the 
sheriff. “There is a bond to be signed for 
your ap2Dearance at the next term of court, at 
which time the case against you will be dis- 
missed.” 

For some minutes Robert stood within the 
cell speechless. Then he recalled that further 
effort to sacrifice liimself would be wasted, and 
that he must devote his entire energy and ability 
to the task of saving Jack. He signed the bond 
and handed it to the sheriff. 

“Who told you that I was in jail, Jack?” 
Robert inquired, suspecting the truth. 

“I met a stranger from these parts up thar 
in the woods and naturally asked the news. ’ ’ 

“You look played out.” 

“You bet, an’ I feel all in,” said Hudson, 
grinning at the bars of his cell. “Sheriff, 
can’t ye hurry the next meal a little? ’Peers 
to me that a boarder who worked so hard to git 


266 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


into yer old jail is entitled to special consid- 
eration. I feel as empty as a coyote.” 

“Can yoii send Mm some supper at once?” 
asked Robert of the jailer. 

“Yes, and it will be a mighty good one,” re- 
sponded the sympathetic custodian. 

“Did you see your family. Jack?” 

“Just fer a few minutes to bid ’em good-bye 
and give ’em my new address.” 

“I want to think over the case a day or so, 
and then I will come and see you about it,” 
said Robert. “I suppose I may consider my- 
self your counsel in the matter ? ” he asked. 

“I don’t know no other lawyer that’ll work 
fer nothin’, paid in advance,” said the irre- 
pressible Jack. 

“Well, then, sheriff, please instruct the jailer 
to admit me to Mr. Hudson’s cell when the 
emergency requires it,” said Robert. 

“Certainly, Mr. Carlton. We need hardly 
worry over the possibility of a conspiracy be- 
tween two such men,” he remarked to the jailer. 

“Good day. Bob. Better not spend much 
time over my case. What little money that it 
would cost had better be given to the family. 
God knows what they’ll do, but He surely kin 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 267 


raise up a better pervider fer ’em than I’ve 
been. I’m ashamed to ask you to look after 
’em, Bob, but I’ll feel a heap easier, knowin’ 
yer ■with ’em. ’ ’ 

“You •will be with them yourself, old man, 
before many weeks. You are not hung yet, and 
you never will be if I can prevent it, ’ ’ said Rob- 
ert, emphatically, as he followed the sheriff out 
of jail. 


268 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN. 


CHAPTEE XVIII 

THE TEIAL 

From the window of Hudson’s house, Aleen 
saw the liberated Eobert coming down the 
street. She hastily repeated her oft-given 
charge to Mrs. Hudson not to mention her name 
to him, and fled out of the back-door as Eobert 
entered the front room. When eyesight or 
life were in danger she would risk her very 
being, or, what is dearer to a woman, appear- 
ance, for his sake. But when the crisis was 
past, all her feminine caprice reasserted itself 
and she was more determined than ever to 
avoid him. 

The next day she visited Mrs. Hudson and 
learned that Bob would defend the case alone. 
Wliile Eobert declared his doubts as to his 
ability and offered to bring a lawyer from Den- 
ver, Hudson insisted that Bob could accomplish 
as much as anyone could, and that he would not 
approve of any unnecessary expenditure of 
money in a forlorn hope. 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 269 


“Do you think there is any chance, Miss Hil- 
liard?” asked the anxious wife, clinging to 
Aleen’s hand with both of hers. 

“I certainly do, Mrs. Hudson. Bob himself 
does not realize his strength in defending a 
righteous cause. He will not fail.” 

Aleen went to Hudson’s every day. She 
wore a heavy veil, and the rumor gained cur- 
rency in the neighborhood that she was some 
female relative of the family. She always left 
before it was time for Robert to come to his 
meals. 

Carlton managed to make several trips to 
Colorado Springs during the short interval that 
elapsed before the trial. His straightforward 
manner made friends for him among the court 
officers. 

Hudson was taken into the courtroom at the 
opening of the term ; the information was read, 
charging him with the murder of Zeb Hart, and 
he was asked to plead guilty or not guilty. 
Upon advice of Bob, he entered a formal plea 
of not guilty, and the case was set for trial near 
the top of the calendar. 

When Aleen entered the courtroom on the 
appointed day, Hudson was the least perturbed 


270 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


of all the people present. Robert was walking 
to and fro before the judge’s bench, and did 
not observe her. She recalled that he had 
made no effort to see her since they had parted 
in the jail, and attributed his neglect partly to 
his suspicions of her connection with Hudson’s 
return. In this she did him great injustice. 
His mind and heart were filled with one pur- 
pose, namely, to liberate Jack. Until that was 
accomplished, all other interests were reso- 
lutely set aside. 

Mrs. Hudson, Lizzie and the baby were placed 
just outside the rail and as near to it as the 
rules permitted. On seeing her papa, little 
Katherine called out, “Dada, take baby,” and 
Hudson smiled and waved his hand. 

The judge came down the aisle and took his 
seat and all of the members of the bar arose 
as the bailitf pounded with his gavel and called 
out: 

“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, this court is now 
open and ready to transact business.” 

“The State of Colorado versus John Hudson 
is set for to-day,” said the judge. “Is the 
State ready?” 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 271 


‘‘The State is ready,” answered the district 
attorney. 

“The defence is ready, your honor,” said 
Robert. 

“Call the jury,” said the court. While the 
court read the names on the panel, there was a 
shuffling of heavy boots and a readjustment of 
tobacco-quids as the jurors entered the box. 

The courtroom was packed with people who 
were drawn to the spot by the unusual spec- 
tacle of a man who was to be defended on a 
charge of murder by a lawyer who had been 
under arrest for the same crime. The story 
had traveled around, gathering details as it 
went, until it formed a thrilling romance that 
equaled the tale of Damon and Pythias. Thanks 
to the discretion of Hudson, Aleen’s name had 
not been coupled with his retuim. 

The prosecuting attorney plainly showed by 
his appearance that his duty was a most dis- 
tasteful one. Public sympathy was clearly 
with the prisoner, and no jury-box has yet been 
devised which can be so guarded as to exclude 
the silent force of popular opinion. The judge 
scowled and seemed disposed to visit his wrath 
on the first head that showed above the mass. 


272 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


The occupants of the jury-box held up their 
hands and were sworn. Eobert and the district 
attorney examined each talesman. The dis- 
trict attorney asked a few perfunctory ques- 
tions of each juryman, hut his heart plainly 
was not in the work. In two cases, Eobert ’s 
questions uncovered labor union connections 
which caused him to use peremptory challenges. 
These places were filled by talesmen in the 
courtroom. Eobert had informed himself as 
to the antecedents of all of the panel and was 
pleased to find that ten of the first twelve men 
drawn were middle-aged citizens, with families, 
and that several were prospectors. He used 
his eyes as much as his ears in judging the 
men and left on the jury those who appeared 
the most conscientious and intelligent. 

Several witnesses testified to the finding of 
the body and the usual medical testimony was 
introduced in order to disabuse any juryman 
of the idea that Hart died of typhoid fever or 
any lingering illness. By consent of the de- 
fence, Hudson’s confession was read and the 
State rested. 

Eobert called Hudson to the stand in his own 
defence, and adroitly drew from him the story 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 273 


of the claim- jumping and the shooting of old 
Jim. The district attorney made some show of 
resisting part of the testimony that was mani- 
festly irrelevant. In a great many cases his 
objections were sustained by the court, but not 
until the facts were heard by the jury. 

Hart’s two companions the night of the mur- 
der were sworn, and admitted that they and 
Hart had done all they could to draw Hudson 
into a fight while in the saloon, in the hope of 
“putting him out of business” before the claim- 
jumping case came up. 

The defence rested, and the State announced 
that it had no rebuttal evidence to offer. 

Each attorney had prepared a list of instruc- 
tions, which he handed to the judge, and a recess 
of an hour was taken while the court made its 
selection therefrom. 

During the intermission it was pretty clear 
that the sympathy of the crowd was with Jack, 
in spite of the indisputable fact of the murder. 
Aleen heard a running fire of comment all 
around her. 

“Reckon they’ll hang him?” 

“Like as not, but they ought to pension 
him.” 


274 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“I ’low that the jury’s more liable to hang 
than the prisoner,” spoke up the local wit, and 
the venerable joke drew its usual tribute of 
laughter. 

“He ain’t got much of a lawyer.” 

“As good as he needs with the district attor- 
ney actin’ so dopey. The way he acts, you’d 
think he was payin’ for the rope and hated to 
use any.” 

Aleen was alternately cheered and depressed 
by the remarks. She had yet to learn the wise 
aphorism of the old Kansas attorney who once 
said that if there was any one thing that Provi- 
dence did not know, it was what a jury would 
do. 

Eobert walked to and fro between Jack and 
his family. First Hudson would cheer him up 
a bit and then Eobert would endeavor to instil 
some hope into the dejected Mrs. Hudson and 
Lizzie. Only the baby seemed happy amid the 
gloomy surroundings, and her joy was marred 
by the inexplicable fact that “Dada” would 
not “take baby.” 

Finally the court returned and instructed the 
jury. His instructions were of the usual kind. 
He defined the several degrees of murder and 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 275 


had one very favorable clause inserted at Rob- 
ert’s request, which seemed to take the case 
clear out of the first degree of murder. It was 
so evidently an unpremeditated crime, done in 
the heat of passion, that the most that the 
prosecution could demand was a penitentiary 
sentence. Robert was greatly relieved to find 
the judge so explicit in his definition of murder 
in the first degree. 

The district attorney made the opening ar- 
gument. He reviewed the evidence, reminded 
the jury of the oaths they had taken, quoted the 
instructions of the court, and asked that an 
example be made of the prisoner in order to 
check lawlessness that was again becoming 
prevalent in the district. He pointed out the 
undisputed evidence of the murder and the con- 
fession of the prisoner. He assured them that 
they were in no wise responsible for the fact 
that innocent beings would sutler if the pris- 
oner were found guilty; these innocent beings 
should have been first in the prisoner’s thought 
on that awful night, etc., etc. In a word, he 
made a perfunctory speech which dimmed, 
rather than emphasized, the points brought out 
in the evidence, and sat down. 


276 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


Every one present felt that the prosecution 
had made a weak presentation of its side of the 
case and waited expectantly to hear what Eob- 
ert would say. 

He arose, and after addressing the court, con- 
gratulated the jury on the brevity of the case 
and assured them that he would not detain them 
with a prolonged appeal. He acknowledged the 
courtesy of the district attorney in his conduct 
of the prosecution and complimented the jury 
on the intelligent attention shown. He then 
proceeded to say: “In behalf of the defence, I 
wish to ask your thanks for the fact that we 
have not attempted to cloud the issue by a plea 
of insanity or self-defence. We have admitted 
the main points. I might say that we have em- 
phasized them. 

“The prisoner at the bar. Jack Hudson, has 
lived in this community for years. He has been 
a law-abiding citizen, has reared his little fam- 
ily and owns his modest home. He pays his 
debts and has never wronged any man in his 
life. He is a prospector and has been for 
twenty years. Some of you may know the hopes 
and fears, the joys and sorrows of prospect- 
ing. Some of you may have slept on the cold 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 277 


ground and climbed rough mountain-sides in 
search of the vein of gold that was always just 
one stroke of the pick ahead of you. Some of 
you may have felt the joy that comes when you 
strike pay dirt and the sorrow that follows 
when the vein pinches out. All of these are 
part of the game, and you take them uncom- 
plainingly. But into the mining business, as 
into other businesses, there creeps the coward 
who would gather the harvest of someone’s 
else toil ; the miscreant who has not the energy 
to dig nor the courage to rob at the point of 
gun ; but who has the craft and the cunning and 
the money to find flaws or to manufacture them 
and to haul the honest, but poorly-informed, 
miner into court where he is dazed by the un- 
usual surroundings and quite often surrenders 
his rights for a nominal figure to the vulture 
who has hovered over his claim. Such was the 
kind of a man that Jack Hudson killed. He 
knew the value of Hudson’s claim, he thought 
he had discovered a flaw in the preliminary 
work, and he hired legal assistance to help him 
in his nefarious attempt. He knew that Hud- 
son was poor. He knew that Hudson had a 
family to support and could spare little time 


278 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


or money for litigation. But he did not know, 
gentlemen of the jury, that Jack Hudson was 
a desperate man fighting in his last ditch. He 
did not know that twenty years of hard work 
and exposure had made an old man of the pris- 
oner at the bar, and that he would fight because 
he must fight. The tiger had drawn his cubs 
around him, had backed into a corner, and 
would struggle to the death. Zeb Hart, who 
had made several fortunes by claim-jumping 
and lost them at the gambling-table, had at last 
met a foe who had to fight. This discovery 
led him to practice petty persecution in various 
forms. He wantonly and inexcusably shot Hud- 
son’s horse, his sole possession of any value. 
He hounded his steps, and I am firmly con- 
vinced that his purpose on the fatal night in 
question was to embroil Hudson in his half- 
drunken condition, in a free-for-all fight and 
do away with him. 

^‘Gentlemen, I will not attempt to palliate 
Hudson’s crime. Under the instructions of the 
court, the greatest punishment you can inflict 
on the prisoner is a penitentiary sentence. You 
have probably formed some slight idea of the 
kind of a man who is on trial before you. No 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 279 


verdict of yours can burden bis conscience, and 
no acquittal of yours can lessen his remorse at 
the act which was forced upon him by his vic- 
tim. Jack Hudson did not voluntarily return 
from the White river country, where he was 
free and unsuspected of crime, for the pur- 
pose of evading punishment. He came back 
to state his case fairly and squarely to a jury 
of his peers, and to ask them, as men, what they 
would have done in lois place. 

“The district attorney has properly asked 
you to consider the effect of an acquittal on 
the quick-shooting gentry in this neighborhood. 
Let me ask you to consider the effect of a con- 
viction on the shifting, sneaking coterie of 
claim-jumpers who hang around the outskirts 
of every successful mining-camp like the ghouls 
that rob the dead on the battlefield. Show them, 
gentlemen of the jury, that there is a line which 
they must not cross in their crookedness and 
deviltry; that there is a point beyond which 
they cannot go. 

“I will not insult your intelligence by dwell- 
ing further on this matter, but gladly leave the 
fate of the prisoner in your hands in the serene 
consciousness that you will put yourself in his 


280 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


place during the weeks that preceded the trag- 
edy and ask yourselves, “What would I have 
done?” If you will do that, I have no fear of 
your verdict, or that of any Colorado jury. I 
thank you. ’ ’ 

As Robert sat down there was breathless 
silence in the courtroom. Baby Katherine 
reached her little hand up to her mother’s face 
and asked, “Will dad turn home?” 

There were few dry eyes among the specta- 
tors. Many of the jurors were visibly affected 
by Robert’s speech and the baby’s plaintive 
question. Hudson reached over and took hold 
of Bob’s hand, giving it a pressure which was 
more eloquent than words in conveying his 
appreciation of Bob’s efforts, regardless of 
what the result might be. 

The district attorney made a very brief clos- 
ing argument. He recognized that popular 
sympathy was against him and in favor of the 
prisoner. In fact, he did not seem to have his 
heart in the matter at am^' stage of the proceed- 
ings. 

The court gave the jury the several forms 
of verdict which might be rendered in the case, 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 281 


and they entered the small jury-room in charge 
of the bailiff. 

Hudson pushed back his chair and rested his 
arm on the rail beside him. His expression 
was one of calm confidence, but his face plainly 
showed that he realized the serious nature of 
the crisis. Mrs. Hudson drew nearer to the 
rail and took his extended hand, while Lizzie 
rested her head on his shoulder. Little Kath- 
erine sat back in her mother’s lap, perfectly 
contented to find her beloved “dada” so near. 
Their efforts to engage in conversation were 
futile, for none of the three could keep eyes 
or mind from the entrance to the jury-room. 
Every minute seemed multiplied by ten during 
this interval. The court busied himself in ar- 
ranging some papers connected with the next 
case, but did not make any move to take it up. 
Being a veteran in such matters, he doubtless 
recognized the signs of an early verdict. 

In a very short time the bailiff came in and 
announced : 

“The jury have agreed.” 

“You may bring them in,” said the judge. 

The bailiff went to the door of the little r<:)om 
and beckoned to the jury-men, who followed him 


282 BOB OAELTON, AMEEICAN 


into the courtroom, and took their places in the 
jury-box. 

“Have you agreed upon a verdict?” asked 
the court. 

The foreman arose and said: “We have,” 
and handed a slip of paper to the clerk, who 
opened it and read as follows : 

“We, the jury, duly sworn and empaneled in 
the ease of the State of Colorado versus John 
Hudson, do find the defendant not guilty, 

“James Little, foreman.” 

“Is this your verdict, gentlemen?” asked 
the court. Each man nodded assent. In an 
instant the courtroom was filled with confusion. 
A whirlpool of heads and bonnets seemed to 
converge towards Hudson. 

Eobert, being the nearest, seized him by both 
hands. 

“Thank God, Jack, you are free!” 

“Bob, ye’ve saved us all!” Hudson did not 
take the time to go around by the gate, but 
stepped over the rail, where he was surrounded 
fiy 3. joyful throng that hardly gave place to 
his wife and children. Most of the crowd had 
never seen Jack before that morning, but the 
simple eloquence of Eobert ’s speech, coupled 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 283 


with the story of Jack’s voluntary return, and 
the added fact that his victim was a notorious 
claim-jumper, made Hudson a hero in their 
eyes. 

Aleen took advantage of the confusion to 
escape from the courtroom unobserved. 

The crowd soon opened a passage to the 
door, and Jack and his happy family marched 
out into the free air of heaven. Eobert lost 
little time in gathering up his papers and fol- 
lowing them. 

They did not linger in Colorado Springs, but 
caught the first train to Victor and were in 
Cripple Creek before bedtime. 

Later in his life Eobert was the recipient of 
some large fees, but he never received from 
any case as great compensation as was his in 
witnessing the reunion in Hudson’s cabin that 
night. 


284 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XIX 

THE DAEKEST HOUB 

The strike finally ended in a complete victory 
for the union. Colorado Springs was the head- 
quarters of the mineowners, many of whom 
had fine homes in that beautiful mountain town. 
The governor and attorney general were cor- 
dially hated by these citizens because of their 
sympathetic attitude toward the strikers and 
the practical assistance rendered them when- 
ever it would be done in a manner that was col- 
orably legal. The attorney general was given 
emphatic evidence of his unpopularity on the 
occasion of his first visit to Colorado Springs 
after the termination of the strike. 

He stopped at the Alamo Hotel, and during 
the night a bellboy summoned him to the tele- 
phone, sajdng that a party in Cripple Creek 
wished to talk with him. He dressed hurriedly 
and came down-stairs. When he entered the 
office of the hotel, several masked men seized 
and gagged him. The night-clerk was com- 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 285 


pelled to stand up in the corner while the attor- 
ney general was rather roughly hustled into a 
closed carriage. This vehicle was closely fol- 
lowed by another one filled with armed and 
masked men. The entire party were taken to 
Austin Bluffs, about three miles from town. 
They disembarked at this point. Most of the 
official’s clothing was removed and he was 
coated from head to foot with warm tar. Then 
a feather-pillow was produced from under the 
buggy-seat, ripped open and its contents plen- 
tifully sprinkled over his adhesive surface. 

“There, gineral, you look like what we’ve 
always said ye was — not — a bird of an attorney 
gineral,” said one of the leaders, in disguised 
voice. 

“I will have the law on you, you scoundrels,” 
sputtered the victim. 

“Better get the feathers off first, general. 
The only case you could fit into to-night is a 
pillow-case,” and they left him, to be found 
later by some sympathizers and restored to a 
semblance of humanity. 

Hudson’s outspokenness had not been for- 
gotten by the members of the union, and he 
looked in vain for work in the mines. Then 


286 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


he tried odd jobs about town, but he seemed to 
be followed wherever he went by a walking 
delegate. He seldom worked longer than one 
day in a place before his employer would be 
notified to discharge Hudson unless he desired 
a boycott of his business. 

He earned a little money by panning gold 
from a placer-mine north of Cripple Creek, but 
a pseudo owner drove him from the work. A 
committee from the union waited on him and 
promised him work in fifteen minutes after he 
joined their organization, if he would sur- 
render. 

“Not so long as the goddess of liberty stays 
on the back of a twenty-five-cent piece,” he 
answered, decisively. If he felt any discour- 
agement during these dark days he carefully 
concealed the fact from everyone, including his 
family. 

Robert had sold his scant law-library while 
Hudson’s trial was in progress, in order to pay 
his expenses in going to and from Colorado 
Springs. In addition to this, he borrowed 
money from Mr. Dow with which to take the 
Hudson family to court on the day of the trial. 
For several months Robert had been the source 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 287 


of their meagre supplies, which were reduced to 
absolute necessities. Frequently both men left 
the table almost as hungry as when they sat 
down, though neither would admit it. 

Robert’s ability as a lawyer was recognized, 
but no man dared to employ him in a jury case 
on account of the hatred which the labor union 
element had for him. He could have gone to 
Colorado Springs, where the outcome of the 
Hudson trial had given him still greater pres- 
tige as an attorney, and where the sentiment of 
the more solid citizens was against the abuses 
practiced under the name of unionism. It is 
needless to say that this evident determination 
to drive Robert from Cripple Creek only in- 
creased his quiet obstinacy and made him more 
fixed in his resolve to hold his ground. 

Mr. Dow had a client who resided in the East, 
and who wished some assessment work done 
on a couple of claims south of town, and Rob- 
ert took the contract for working them. Before 
and after office-hours he labored as long as there 
was light. This gave him employment, but no 
immediate money, for he was obliged to await 
the completion of the work before he could 
expect any remuneration. 


288 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“I reckon this truck had been in your way 
long enough, Katie,” Hudson said one day, as 
he gathered up his specimens of ore from the 
window-sills of the cabin. The samples were 
made up of nuggets from placer-mines at Breck- 
enridge, freegold in quartz from Durango, syl- 
vanite from Cripple Creek, silver from Aspen, 
Georgetown and Creede, lead from Leadville, 
together with copper and numerous other speci- 
mens from all over the State. It was a valu- 
able collection intrinsically, and worth even 
more than it would assay to a mineralogist or 
prospector. It was the pet of Hudson’s heart, 
his ewe-lamb. Each jagged piece was asso- 
ciated in his mind with toilsome effort, light- 
ened by rays of hope, which had so far not 
brightened into anything substantial or per- 
manent. 

A few days later Lizzie saw her father’s col- 
lection in the window of a Bennett avenue 
broker. She hurried home breathlessly. 

“Papa, did you sell the ore specimens?” she 
asked. Hudson could not avoid a direct 
answer. 

“Yes, I was tired of seein’ ’em aroimd, an’ 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 289 


they interfered with yer mother’s honse-keep- 
in’. They was always mussy things.” 

His wife said nothing, but she knew that his 
light manner was simply used to mask his real 
feelings from Lizzie. They were the sole tan- 
gible net result of thirty years of prospecting 
over all kinds of surface in all sorts of weather. 
Hudson caught the sjunpathetic gleam in his 
wife’s eye, as Lizzie passed into the next room. 

‘ ‘ Cheer up, little woman, the darkest hour is 
just before the dawn, and it’s so black now ye 
can shore lean agin it, ’ ’ he said, trying to force 
a smile. 

The Sylvanite and Mountain Queen lodes 
were increasing in value every day. A large 
body of rich ore had been opened up on the ad- 
joining claim and Hudson held firmly to the 
opinion that the apex of the vein was on the 
Mountain Queen property. The big Portland 
mine was only a few hundred feet away and 
joining it on the southeast was Stratton’s “In- 
dependence. ’ ’ 

“We shore are trottin’ in good company,” 
said Hudson, “and I opine that some of the 
richness has spilled over into our back yard.” 

Robert and Hudson would probably have sub- 


290 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


mitted to the pressure of immediate needs and 
sold their claims at a low figure and added an- 
other link to the long chain of Hudson’s 
“Might-have-beens,” hut the adverse cases 
were filed before they had acquired their titles 
and buyers looked askance at the prospect of 
buying a problematical mine encumbered by an 
undoubted legal fight, so that what seemed to 
them the greatest wrong proved eventually to 
be a blessing in disguise. 

Encouraged by Hart’s action, another ad- 
verse case had been filed by an adjoining owner 
whose claim overlapped parts of theirs. Hart’s 
case was one of clear “jumping,” and lay right 
atop of both lodes. Both claimants alleged 
that the original locators had failed to perform 
the work required by law to be done during the 
first year. Eobert and Hudson swore that they 
had dug the shafts to the required depths and 
that subsequently some unknown party had 
partly filled in both holes. 

There was only a short time remaining after 
Hudson’s acquittal in which to prepare for the 
civil cases. Hudson’s time and thoughts were 
fully occupied in keeping the wolf from the 
door. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 291 


“Ef it was a shore enough wolf, I’d a had 
it killed and eat long ago,” he muttered. 

Eobert had the law points well in hand and 
had briefed the necessary decisions, but the is- 
sues were more of fact than of law, hence his 
time was largely devoted to searching for evi- 
dences of fraud. 

He spent some time at the mines, studying the 
strata of clay and rock through which their 
shafts had passed. Then he inspected the sur- 
face of tiie ground in the neighborhood. He 
noted some poplar chips left on the dump by 
Hudson when chopping a tree to make a cover- 
ing for the shaft, after the assessment work was 
concluded. He reasoned that similiar chips 
must have fallen into the hole and were un- 
doubtedly covered by the dirt thrown in by the 
conspirators. 

Having worked it out in his own mind, he did 
not hestitate to stake everything on one throw. 
He summoned to the spot two disinterested and 
reliable witnesses, told them his theory and pro- 
ceeded to make the dirt fly. They were amused 
by his enthusiasm and watched him as spadeful 
followed spadeful and revealed nothing but na- 
tive clay. As he neared the original level he 


292 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


went more slowly and carefully and examined 
every handful of dirt. The witnesses were 
peering over the edge, and one of them was 
the first to see a tiny chip protruding from the 
earth. They both clambered in excitedly and 
soon found plenty of proof that the hole had 
been filled in. This was shown by the presence 
of a great many poplar chips, as well as by the 
well-defined dilference in the formation at the 
side of the shaft 

They were now confident of success, but were 
dismayed to learn that the death of Hart ne- 
cessitated the recopying of a great many 
papers and the inclusion of a vast number of 
heirs in the litigation. 

“Them people must want money pretty bad 
to be willin’ to swar they’re kin to Zeb Hart,” 
said Hudson, “but they’ve done it an’ I don’t 
see how we kin go any further in the matter 
without some more money. It’ll take a bunch 
of coin to take a lot of witnesses to Colorado 
Springs and keep them there fer a week or so 
waitin’ fer the lawyers to git through jawin’. 
I think them heirs of Hart’s is puttin’ up part 
of the claims fer expenses an’ it looks like we 
will have to do the same.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 293 


“I have been thinking of that for some time, 
Jack, and have put it off as long as possible, 
but I am afraid we will have to do it.” 

“Here comes Stratton. Let’s tackle him,” 
said Hudson. 

“How are you?” said Stratton, as he came 
up and shook hands with both of them. 

“Purty good in body, but in the hospital 
financially,” said Jack. “Ye know them two 
claims of ourn?” 

“Yes.” 

“An’ ye’ve hearn about the adverse cases, 
I reckon?” 

‘ ‘ I have, ’ ’ answered Stratton, and he pushed 
his hands deeper into his trousers’ pockets and 
an angry gleam came into his deep-set eyes. 

“Well, we’ve got the law an’ the evidence on 
our side an’ it looks like we was goin’ to be 
wrecked in sight o’ port fer the lack of a little 
money for expenses. Bob an’ me ain’t got a 
dollar between us,” said Hudson. 

“Well, I have, boys, and they can’t steal 
your property without a fight, ’ ’ declared Strat- 
ton, emphatically. 

He took Hudson by the arm, drew him into 
a grocery-store and wrote him a check for five 
hundred dollars. 


294 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


“How much of a share do you want for this, 
Stratton? Boh an’ I had made up our minds 
to give any one an interest that’d stake us,” 
said Jack. 

“Not a dollar. Jack. I could not use any 
more money if I had it. Besides, I am only 
paying m)'^ debts. When that is gone, you can 
have another if you need it,” replied Stratton. 

“Hold on, Stratton. It’s mighty good of you 
to act that way, but this is a business proposi- 
tion. Me and Bob ain’t beggin’ an’ ye don’t 
owe me nuthin’,” remonstrated Hudson. 

“Your memory is bad. Jack,” said Stratton, 
as the gleam of a smile crossed his melancholy 
face. “Two years ago, when I was diggin’ the 
assessment holes on the Independence and 
Washington, you boarded me for about a week, 
while I was building a shack, and I never tasted 
anything in my life so good as Mrs. Hudson’s 
cooking. You had to sit on a box at your meals 
in order to give me a chair. I smoked your 
tobacco and carried away one of your cob-pipes 
when I left. When I ran out of dynamite, you 
loaned me some. I was flat-broke when the 
holes were finished and you never received a 
cent for that board.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 295 


“Five dollars would have been a Jew’s price 
fer all I gin ye, Stratton, an’ I never ’lowed to 
charge ye nuthin’, an’ ye know it,” said the 
obstinate Hudson. 

“Yes, Jack, but think what that week’s board 
meant to me. It meant the finish of the pre- 
liminary work on the best mine in Colorado, 
and I feel like I am robbing you when I give you 
only five hundred dollars. I have had value 
received for every cent of it.” 

“By gracious, Stratton, I kin see how you 
feel an’ I guess the Lord picked out a good man 
to dump prosperity on when he picked you, but 
I feel ashamed to take it, just the same.” 

“Don’t say any more about it. Jack. You 
can’t refuse it. You must consider your family 
and your partner. They have some rights in 
the matter. I received full value for every 
dollar of that.” 

“I don’t believe we will need so much as this, 
Stratton,” said Hudson, resolved to die in the 
last ditch. 

‘ ‘ That shows how little you know about courts 
and lawyers. The question in assessing costs 
is, how much have you? A mining lawyer who 
pennitted his client to retain any visible assets 


296 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


might not be disbarred, but he would certainly 
lose caste. No reflection on Carlton, whom I 
learn has revolutionized the criminal law and 
taken away from claim-jumpers the protection 
of the sixth commandment and topped the whole 
business by refusing to charge a fee for his ser- 
vices. He’s no lawyer. He ’s a revolutionist. ” 

“Ye’re right, Stratton, there ain’t many law- 
yers like Bob. We don’t need money fer law- 
sharps this trip, but fer witnesses an’ their ex- 
penses.” 

“Well, give the surplus, if there is any, to 
your wife for those pies and doughnuts that 
she used to make, ’ ’ said Stratton, extending his 
hand. 

“I feel kinder sneakin’ to take it, Stratton, 
but you certainly have a nice way of puttin’ the 
matter by placin’ the obligation on your side,” 
said Hudson, returning the other’s grip, and 
the two old prospectors shook hands warmly. 
“I hope every dollar ye’ve got will draw as big 
interest fer ye as that old board-bill did fer 
me.” 

Jack’s wish was fiflfilled, for within five years 
Stratton sold the Independence for ten million 
dollars and had other rich mines, which were 





1 hope every dollar ye’ve got will draw as big interest fer ye as that 
old board'bill did fer me’ ” 


it i 




BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 297 


not worked to their full capacity, so burdened 
was their owner with the avalanche of gold. 

Robert did not relax in his efforts to find 
additional evidence. The day before the trial, 
a man who had an adjoining claim came to him 
and stated that he knew of some facts which 
would insure a judgment in their favor, and 
offered to impart his knowledge if Robert and 
Hudson would give him an option on their 
claims before the trial, and at a reasonable 
figure. They had no objection to giving him 
an option, if satisfactory terms could be ar- 
ranged. They asked for an hour in which to 
confer upon the matter. 

They knew that the man with whom they 
were dealing was acting for others, because he 
had no money with which to buy mines. They 
were satisfied that he represented considerable 
capital, and that the real principals knew the 
value of the claims, or they would not desire to 
purchase an option in advance of the court’s 
decision. They recalled the fact that this man 
lived in a cabin on the adjoining claim at the 
time Hart made his location, and they did not 
doubt that he was in possession of some facts 
essential to the establishment of their title. 


298 BOB CAELTON, AMBEICAN 


After some consideration, they decided to give 
him an option on both claims for four hundred 
thousand dollars, the deal to be closed within 
twenty-four hours after their titles were con- 
firmed by the court. 

Of course strenuous objection was made to 
the price, but Eobert pointed out the fact that 
unless they received a favorable decision the 
whole matter would fall through, while in the 
event of a sale the purchaser would receive two 
claims, which, with the expenditure of another 
hundred thousand dollars, would yield several 
millions in precious metals, if surface indica- 
tions and surrounding conditions counted for 
anything at all. Eecognizing the fact that he 
was dealing with a practical miner and a shrewd 
lawyer, a combination hard to beat, the man 
agreed to the price and the papers were duly 
executed. 

When the formalities were concluded, the 
holder of the option related his story, which was 
in substance that at the time Hart and his part- 
ner made the locations, the witness was living 
in his cabin on the adjoining claim; that he 
awoke one night and heard voices and saw a 
light in the direction of the Mountain Queen, 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 299 


which side-lined with his claim. His curiosity 
was aroused, and he left his cabin and crept as 
near to the light as he could go without being 
detected. He saw two men shoveling dirt into 
the Mountain Queen shaft. Of course he knew 
that some crooked work was afoot or they would 
not be employed in the middle of the night in 
filling up the shaft. After shoveling in a quan- 
tity of earth one of them took a long piece of 
timber down into the shaft, apparently for the 
purpose of tamping the surface. It was not 
long thereafter until Hart and his associate 
made their locations and dug a new ten-foot dis- 
covery shaft on each claim. 

The next day all parties went to Colorado 
Springs. 

The adverse claimants were completely sur- 
prised when Robert unfolded his perfect de- 
fence, point by point. The judge instructed 
the jury to find for Robert and Hudson, with- 
out leaving the box. No exceptions were filed 
by the stampeded claimants. As the other case 
was based upon the failure to do the assess- 
ment work, it was voluntarily dismissed, and 
the costs were assessed against the claimants. 

The next day the holder of the option stated 


300 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


that he represented the Portland Gold Mining 
Company and that he was ready to close the 
deal. That night the two partners, who had 
been struggling against poverty all their lives, 
walked into Hudson’s cabin, each with the docu- 
mentary evidences of great wealth in his pocket. 

“Come here, little woman,” said Hudson, 
placing his arm around his wife’s waist, “ye’ve 
lost yer job as cook in this camp. We’ve got 
to give np our home.” 

“What do you mean. Jack?” 

“I mean that we’re goin’ to have a better 
one, but it’ll never be no better kept nor no 
happier than this ol’ cabin,” Hudson continued, 
reveling in the surprised look which came into 
his wife’s eyes. “Ye’ve been mighty patient 
and long-sufferin’ for nigh twenty year, while 
I’ve been thumping the ribs of the Rockies, 
lookin’ fer pay-dirt. You an’ the kids have 
had few comforts and no enjoyments. You’ve 
never been nowhere nor seen nobody. I know 
ye love purty fixin’s as much as any woman, 
an’ would look better in ’em than most women 
as has ’em. When I look aronnd at the fellers 
that got their money fust and their wives arter- 
wards, I’m mighty glad that mine come the 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 301 


txither way round. God knows, Katie, ye de- 
serve all that love and money can give ye. YeVe 
tended these children from the time ye rocked 
them in a hammock of saplin’s, ’till now Lizzie 
is ’most a woman. Ye’ve worked hard to keep 
’em in school. Ye’ve slaved fer ’em days and 
prayed fer ’em nights, and have kept ’em 
straighter’n if they had been raised in a pal- 
ace.” Mrs. Hudson’s hand was nervously roll- 
ing and unrolling her gingham apron when 
Hudson took it in his big palm and continued: 
“Ye’d hardly believe how little and soft and 
white this hand was twenty year ago. Bob, when 
I swore to stand between her and trouble. It 
has become rough and twisted from work, but 
it looks better to me than it ever did. Some 
people might see wrinkles in yer face, Katie, 
but I kin read between the lines and see nothing 
but love and sacrifice. Ye’ve starved with me, 
ye’ve worked with me. When I was down in 
the dumps ye’ve cheered me up. When I was 
at the foot of the gallows ye stuck to me tighter 
than ever. Now, Katie, the fight is over and 
we’ve won. We’ve been lookin’ fer a strike 
fer twenty year. Thar’s what we’ve struck,” 
and he showed her certificates of deposit for 


302 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


two hundred thousand dollars. Katie’s eyes 
filled with tears as she grasped the papers in 
her trembling hand. 

“You won the suit, Jack?” 

“Yes, honey, and sold the mine. Me an’ Bob 
each got two hundred thousand, and I’m done 
flirting with mother earth. Thar ’ll never be 
but one more hole dug in the ground fer Jack 
Hudson. ’ ’ 

“Is this really that much money. Jack?” she 
asked. 

“Yes, Katie, just as true as if it was in ten- 
dollar bills. Thar’s no frills nor fixin’s be- 
tween here an’ Paris that ye can’t have, if ye 
want ’em.” 

“There are lots of things that can be done 
with money that will be wiser than over-dress- 
ing an old woman like me. Let’s not make the 
mistake of thinking that we can buy either 
youth or beauty. I am glad that the children 
will be spared some of the things we have suf- 
fered; but you and I will probably see days 
when we will sigh for this old cabin and the 
friends who were honest, though few. ’ ’ 

“AYell, Katie, I guess ye’re goin’ to stand 
prosperity as well as ye did the other thing. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 303 


Ye’re the grandest lady in the world to me, in 
calico or silk.” 

Then, man-like, he tried to enthuse her, and 
stumbled on to what was probably her principal 
dread. 

“We can have a big house and half a dozen 
hired girls, if you want ’em. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That would be about as restful to a woman 
as bossing a mine full of men would be to you,” 
laughed his wife. “We have been so happy 
and cozy in our two rooms, and we would be 
lost in a big house. Jack.” 

“The bigness needn’t worry ye, ye wouldn’t 
have to do a tap of work yerself. We’d have 
servants at every turn, ’ ’ remonstrated her puz- 
zled husband. 

“I have been happy taking care of you and 
the children for twenty years,” said she, with 
trembling lips. “Must I turn this over to 
someone else? If I saw anyone taking my 
place, I should be miserable. I will be jealous 
of that money if it is used in buying substitutes 
for me.” 

“Katie, ye’ve worked so long it would never 
do to make ye stop sudden. I reckon thar’s a 
dishwashin’ department in heaven where tired 


304 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


wives and mothers kin kind o’ taper-off fer a 
few weeks before they dare trust ’em with a 
harp. We ’ll start otf kind o’ moderate, travel 
some and learn our manners among strangers 
first, send the kids to college and try to enjoy 
this money without makin’ fools of ourselves. 
We’ll invest most of it in government bonds. 
The return won’t be so big, but thar’ll be less 
danger of the vein pinchin’ out.” 

Eobert ■witnessed this and similar pathetic 
scenes in the development of his old friends, 
and it was very natural that his mind on such 
occasions should turn to the chief object of all 
his desires and aspirations. Notwithstanding 
the attention which he necessarily had been giv- 
ing to legal matters, criminal and civil, there 
was not a moment when the image of Aleen 
did not brighten the background of his thoughts. 
Her actions mystified him, but woman in the 
abstract had always been an unsolved riddle to 
him, and Aleen would have been a difficult 
problem to the most advanced student of her 
enigmatical sex. She had risked everything to 
come to his aid when he was about to be hanged, 
and when everyone else, including himself, had 
given the matter up. He was convinced that 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 305 


she loved him, but when his trouble was over 
she disappeared as unaccountably as she had 
come. His poverty had been the barrier be- 
tween them hitherto. Now' that he had, by his 
own efforts, broken down that wall he felt that 
he must find her and learn his fate. He could 
not lie down, he could not sit quietly in his 
room. Robert, the imperturbable, who had 
faced a howling mob for principle’s sake and 
had walked open-eyed to the foot of the gallows 
to save a friend, paced the streets of Cripple 
Creek until almost morning trying to calm his 
desire for an immediate decision of his fate 
from Aleen’s lips. 


306 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


CHAPTER XX 

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME 

In spite of her own cares and her interest in 
Robert’s affairs, Aleen had noticed a shadow 
creeping over the faces of her aunt and uncle. 
It was evident that they were brooding over 
some trouble of which they did not care to 
speak. She soon discovered from her uncle’s 
manner and the sad, hut loving, glances of her 
aunt, that in some way their anxieties were 
aroused concerning Donald. He was out until 
after midnight almost every night and in the 
mornings he had frequent long interviews with 
his mother, which left a depressing effect upon 
both of them. 

Now that Robert’s affairs were settled and 
his fortune assured, Aleen ’s sympathetic heart 
went out in yearning desire to assist the rela- 
tives who had been so kind to her. One morn- 
ing she accosted her aunt, who was coming from 
one of these talks with Donald, and ventured to 
inquire the cause of her sadness. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 307 


“Please tell me, Auntie, why you have all 
been so disturbed lately. I do not ask from 
curiosity. I want to help you, if I can.” 

“We have tried to keep it to ourselves, dear, 
so as not to spoil your vacation,” said Mrs. 
Law, sorrowfully, “but it will be town-talk 
soon, and I would rather tell you myself than 
have you hear of it first from strangers. Donald 
fancies himself in love with a girl named Mila 
Walsh. She sings and dances in a variety 
theatre. We have been unable to disillusion 
him concerning her. I believe that my heart 
will break. I have never had lofty ideas about 
such things, and would welcome any wife whom 
Donald might select, however poor and humble 
she might be. I am not opposed to respecta- 
ble actresses, but I cannot reconcile myself to 
the thought of a daughter brought into my 
home from such surroundings. Wliat can we 
do? Your uncle will go crazy unless Donald 
gives her up. ’ ’ 

“That is truly worse than I thought. Does 
Don believe that the girl really loves him, and 
him only?” 

“Oh, yes, it is easy enough for that sort of 


308 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


girl to make a boy like Donald believe any- 
thing.” 

“It is so foreign to his nature, Auntie. I 
did not suppose that he would even go near a 
dance-hall. Did he meet her there?” 

“Yes, he was there the night of her first ap- 
pearance. He said that he saw at a glance how 
superior she was to her surroimdings. She 
seemed timid and frightened by the noisy ad- 
miration which she excited in the audience. It 
was a case of love at first sight. Donald was 
inspired by a foolish idea of taking her out of 
such an atmosphere and bringing her into our 
home. Nothing can shake his confidence in her 
purity and goodness. His description has made 
me anxious to see her, if for no other purpose 
than to show him the flaws in his idol; but I 
do not see how I can have the courage to go 
into that vile place.” 

“Has she been here long?” 

“Yes, for several weeks. She has made such 
an impression with her singing and dancing that 
she has become the star attraction.” 

“Well, Auntie, there is bound to be an end 
to her professional engagement. The novelty 
will soon wear off and the audience will demand 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 309 


sometliing new. She will have to seek an en- 
gagement somewhere else, and that will cer- 
tainly end the matter. I am sure that Donald 
has too much self-respect to follow her about 
the country.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, my dear, I wish that I could be as certain 
of his self-respect as I was before this affair 
started. I am convinced that he means to marry 
her,” cried Mrs. Law, wringing her hands. 

“Well, Auntie, we are two women against 
one. We do not lack courage, intelligence or 
determination. Let us first find out the truth 
regarding this girl’s character, and if she is as 
bad as her surroundings would indicate, she 
must have some sordid motive in attaching 
herself to Donald. It may be pride, avarice 
or spite that is moving her. Why cannot you 
and I go to the theater heavily veiled and study 
this pearl cast before swine? Our woman’s 
instinct will tell us her price and enable us to 
find just what she is after in seeking to entan- 
gle Donald. We can act more intelligently after 
a look at the enemy.” 

“But Donald might see us,” remonstrated 
Mrs. Law. 

“It seems to me that I have heard that the 


310 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


boxes in these variety shows are just the re- 
verse of those in the Metropolitan Opera House, 
and are built for privacy,” said Aleen, with a 
twinkle in her eye. “Once inside a box, we 
would be invisible to the audience.” 

Aleen ’s suggestion seemed the best that could 
be followed as a preliminary move. 

That night she and her aunt went early to 
the dingy theater on Myers avenue. They were 
almost the first to arrive and obtained a front 
box, which they entered without being observed. 
The box was curtained, and they could peep out 
without being seen. This was the only theater 
in Cripple Creek, and it was soon filled by an 
audience representative of all classes. Mrs. 
Law was surprised to see some good church 
members tip-toe stealthily down the aisle with 
upturned collars and sink as deeply into their 
seats as they could. Her severe judgment of 
Donald for “coming to such a place” was con- 
siderably modified by the nature of the 
audience. 

The first part of the show was a mixture of 
burlesque and minstrelsy, there not being quite 
enough of either to make a separate program. 
The jokes and the coryphees were apparently 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 311 


of the same vintage, and the appeals made to 
eye and ear showed how desperately starved 
these men were for some form of amusement. 
Aleen and her aunt suffered in silence during 
this portion of the entertainment, and watched 
the audience for Donald, paying very little heed 
to the antics on the stage. The first part was 
finished and an intermission was announced 
and still Donald did not appear. His mother 
trembled at the proximity of steps and voices to 
their box, but no one disturbed them, and after 
what seemed an age, the scraping of the 
violins summoned the stragglers to their seats. 

“There is Don,” whispered Aleen, pointing 
to the box opposite, where sat her cousin, hol- 
low-eyed and eager, awaiting the commence- 
ment of the “Grand Olio.” 

A large lady in a red-satin dress put some 
mangy looking cockatoos through a few simple 
tricks and two comedians followed with a slap- 
stick farce which pleased the auditors im- 
mensely. But it was evident that most of those 
present were waiting for Mila Walsh before 
they would really become enthusiastic. 

At last, her number was reached, and the 
audience went wild, as the orchestra played 


312 BOB CAELTON, AMEKICAN 


the opening bars of her first song. Mrs. Law 
and Aleen watched the wings breathlessly. 

As the last chord sounded, a dainty little girl 
bounded merrily to the center of the stage, amid 
a burst of applause that would have gladdened 
the heart of a grand opera star. Her dress 
was of the unconventional song-and-dance 
order of twenty years ago, which means that 
it would have clothed an entire Broadway 
chorus of to-day. The neck was rounded, and 
there were no sleeves. The skirts reached a 
little below her knees and her dancing pumps 
encased a pair of trim little feet and revealed 
tiny ankles that stamped her at once as “no 
lady,” for few ladies could boast such an 
equipment. 

Her lithe limbs indicated the dancer, but her 
voice was a surprise to any one familiar with 
the usual type of “dancing voice.” It was 
soft and full, and, while not of great range, 
was characterized by a richness of tone seldom 
heard amid such surroundings. Her phrasing 
must needs be perfect. Such audiences do not 
attach much importance to other technical 
qualities, but they demand to know what the 
singer is saying. Her evident appreciation of 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 313 


the tnn they were all having was contagious, 
and even Mrs. Law found herself applauding 
the first number. 

The singer’s hair was heavy, but not long, 
and was of a tawny shade like the light stripes 
of a tiger. As she responded to repeated en- 
cores it had a tendency to escape from its fast- 
enings. Her eyes were the blue of the deep 
Atlantic. 

At the last, she had that mob of wild miners 
ready to do her bidding. She quieted them 
most artistically by making some slight change 
in her costume and skipping lightly on the stage 
with a big doll in her arms. The orchestra 
played the Lullaby from Erminie, and as the 
last notes died away she had actually crooned 
that noisy mob into a silence, wonderfully near 
the tear-line. She refused to sing any more 
after that, but nodded and laughed and threw 
kisses at her “big boys,” as she called them, 
and fairly begged for a respite by her pleading 
looks. 

“She is certainly handsome,” said Aleen. 

“Yes, I can see how she might attract a cer- 
tain class of men,” answered Mrs. Law, an- 


314 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


grily, “but I do not understand wbat Donald 
sees in her.” 

•“But she really has a sweet, refined face. 
Auntie. ’ ’ 

“Oh, but her ogling smile as she fairly 
coaxes the applause out of those coarse men 
is disgusting.” 

The applause was certainly sincere and in- 
sistent. Every one in the house except the 
two veiled ladies was clapping and stamping 
or whistling. The heavy artillery was stationed 
in the box occupied by Donald. The manage- 
ment knew from experience that this feverish 
demand could not be quieted instantaneously, 
but must be soothed by another appearance. 
A signal was given from the wings, and the 
orchestra struck up, “There’ll Be a Hot Time 
in the Old Town To-night.” Mila came trip- 
ping on to the stage, having exchanged her 
dancing slippers for clogs, and commenced to 
clatter an accompaniment as clear-cut as 
though given with castanets. She danced as 
naturally as she walked, and seemingly with 
less exertion. As she finished, the applause 
was louder than before. She returned to the 
stage again and again, bowing and smiling her 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 315 


gratitude. There was not the slightest cessa- 
tion in the demands of the audience until she 
indicated her weariness in eloquent pantomime. 

Taking advantage of a slight lull in the 
tumult, a tough-looking individual came to the 
center of the stage and announced a four-cor- 
nered, free-for-all contest between a quartette 
of colored puglilists, for a purse of fifty dol- 
lars. The fickle audience was immediately di- 
verted by the prospect of a fight. 

A referee was selected and called to the stage 
and a rope was stretched, forming a ring. At 
this point Aleen and her aunt were about to 
leave the box, when they saw Mila enter the one 
occupied by Donald and take a seat by his side. 

“The shameless creature,” said Mrs. Law. 

Donald and Mila paid little attention to the 
fight, but talked to each other during most of 
the time. Aleen and her aunt were disgusted 
by the spectacle behind the footlights and tried 
to avoid looking at it. They concentrated their 
attention as much as possible on the opposite 
box. They would gladly have gone home, but 
were determined to see the thing out. They 
waited until the performance was over, and 
the house nearly empty before leaving. 


316 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


As they emerged from the theater, they saw 
Donald and Mila a short distance in front of 
them, on Fourth street. By taking the oppo- 
site side, Aleen and her aunt kept pace with 
the two lovers without being observed, and 
noted carefully the location of the house which 
they entered. 

With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Law turned to 
her niece and said, “Poor boy, how can we 
save him.” 

“I will go and see her to-morrow. Auntie, and 
try to persuade her to leave Cripple Creek. 
If she has a spark of womanly goodness in her 
heart, she will do so when I tell her how we 
all feel on the subject. If it is money that she 
is after, I will pay her a reasonable amount to 
go away.” 

“If you can only persuade her to go at once, 
we will gladly pay her well,” said Mrs. Law, 
consoled by the suggestion. 

Aleen was not so sure of the outcome, be- 
cause she had read in the eyes of the little 
singer a story of love not unlike her own, and 
she felt that the task which she had set herself 
would not be an easy one. 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 317 


Nevertheless, the next day she started bravely 
on her disagreeable mission. 

Her ring at the bell of the house on Fourth 
street was answered by a slatternly-looking 
woman, whose turned-up skirts and wrapped- 
up head showed that she had been called from 
active household duties to answer the door. 

Her inhospitable stare showed Aleen that 
callers were not encouraged at Mrs. Albee’s 
boarding-house during the morning hours. 

“What can I do for you?” asked the lady of 
the house. 

“Is Miss Walsh at home?” meekly inquired 
Aleen. 

“I dunno. I’ll see. Wait a minute,” and 
stepping back a few feet to the foot of the 
stairs, she called in a loud voice: “Miss Walsh, 
are ye home? and are ye up? There’s a young 
leddy inquiring for ye.” 

Aleen was so startled by the unexpected pub- 
licity attendant upon her informal call that she 
almost wished that the earth would open and 
let her sink out of sight. She was greatly re- 
assured by a sweet voice from the next land- 
ing, which said . 

“Why, of course, Mrs. Albee, I am at home 


318 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


and have been up and practicing for hours. Tell 
the lady to come to my room.” 

Aleen ascended the stairs and found her en- 
tertainer of the night before standing at the 
top with a surprised and curious look in her 
eyes. 

“Are you Miss Walsh?” she asked. 

“I am,” came the reply, in a sweet voice, 
“won’t you come into my room!” 

‘ ‘ Thank you. My name is Aleen Hilliard. I 
came to see you on a rather queer errand, 
which may seem impertinent to you; hut I 
assure you that my motives are of the very 
best. ’ ’ 

“Please he seated,” said Mila, as they en- 
tered her room. 

Aleen took a chair facing her hostess, and at 
once plunged into the subject of her errand. 

“You know my cousin, Donald Law?” 

“I know Donald Law.” 

“You also probably know that he is very 
much infatuated with you?” 

“That would be a matter on which I would 
not care to express an opinion,” Mila answered, 
the color coming into her cheeks. 

“I know that I am on very delicate ground, 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 319 


and it is presumptuous for a girl of my years 
to try to advise in sucli matters, but I hoped 
that our similarity in ages might make it easier 
for us to understand each other. When you 
realize the gravity of the situation, I am sure 
that you will pardon my interference, whether 
you grant my plea or not. Donald is an only 
son. His parents idolize him. They have no 
foolish notions in regard to his marrying be- 
neath them, so far as worldly riches are con- 
cerned, but they do feel that his wife should 
be a girl of domestic tastes, who would be con- 
tented amid the quiet surroundings of a modest 
home. They also feel that they should know 
more of her antecedents and history than they 
know regarding you. Donald is so wrapped 
in you that he will not listen to any arguments. 
Whether his love is permanent or not, his pres- 
ent attitude is a great source of grief to his 
parents. They have given up all hopes of 
bringing him to his senses and have asked me 
to appeal to you.” 

“Is the fact that he loves me an indication 
that he has lost his senses?” asked Mila. 

“My dear, it is well known among us girls 
at least, that no man in love is in full possession 


320 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


of Ms senses. So long as it is out of the ques- 
tion for Mm to marry you, it is the height of 
folly from every point of view for him to con- 
tinue his attentions.” 

“He is of age, is he not, and his own master? 
He can marry whom he chooses,” said Mila, 
with considerable feeling. 

“He is certainly of age, and except where 
you are concerned, is his own master. I am 
assuming that you do not care for him any 
more than you do for many other men who have 
paid you attentions. I have not for a moment 
thought that you contemplated leaving the stage 
and settling down in Cripple Creek as the wife 
of a poor, but honest, citizen. I need scarcely 
tell you that this town is just about the right 
size to be the most uncomfortable spot on earth 
for a person with delicate sensibilities and an, 
shall I say, unknown past. His parents would 
gladly terminate the matter now by paying you 
more than you can earn in many weeks, if you 
will leave Cripple Creek and give up Donald.” 

“Then you came here expecting to buy me 
off,” said Mila, with flashing eyes. 

“I would not put it that way,” said Aleen, 
mildly. “It did not occur to any of us that 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 321 


you were doing anything other than amuse 
yourself with Donald during your temporary 
stay in Cripple Creek. If I am trying to buy 
anything it is peace and happiness for Donald ’s 
father and mother. It never occurred to me 
that you loved Donald, or I would have known 
that such a feeling could not be put aside for a 
money consideration.” 

“I suppose that a girl whose whole life has 
been guarded from trouble and temptation 
thinks it impossible for a concert-hall singer to 
love with constancy and a pure affection, ’ ’ said 
Mila. 

“Not impossible, perhaps, but certainly very 
improbable. You surely have no idea of mar- 
rying Donald?” asked Aleen. 

“Is marriage forbidden to us also?” 

“Marriages like this one would be would not 
seem to present many attractions to a girl who 
has the ability to charm great crowds, as I have 
seen you do. The monotonous existence of a 
housewife would not suit you at all. You would 
soon return to the stage, or else would spend 
your whole time in reproaching Donald for per- 
mitting you to take such a foolish step. His 
temperament is not such as will stand continued 


322 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


disagreements. He would either seek peace 
away from his own fireside, or else would per- 
mit you to return to the stage and himself be- 
come that most despicable form of male para- 
site, a bundle-carrier to an actress. In either 
case it would mean a lowering of his manhood, 
and his family will use every means to prevent 
such a union.” 

“My family is as respectable as his,” said 
Mila, and then she continued, while her angry 
expression changed into a smiling one : ‘ ‘ Thank 
heaven, his love has stood the test. A devotion 
which makes a man willing to jeopardize his 
good name and defy his relatives is worth hav- 
ing. I feel under obligations to all of you for 
assisting me to prove his love. You and his 
parents cannot be blamed for thinking me worse 
than I am, but the world ought to have learned 
by this time not to judge all girls by the same 
standard. It is as inaccurate to assume that 
everyone on the stage is bad as it is to think 
that all those who decry the profession of acting 
are saints. I have not always been a public 
singer and dancer.” 

“So I should have judged from my short 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 323 


acquaintance with you. Would you be willing 
to tell me something about yourself?” 

“Yes, I will, although you are the first person 
to whom I have said a word along those lines. 
I have told Donald nothing, because, in the first 
place, he asked no questions and I wished to see 
whether his protestations of love were genuine 
and could withstand the opposition of his rela- 
tives, without being strengthened by a knowl- 
edge of my pedigree. I believe that you are as 
fair-minded as any young lady could be, and I 
am satisfied that your ideas regarding my char- 
acter and motives have been considerably 
changed in the last half-hour. Therefore, I 
will be glad to tell you all about myself. Up to 
six months ago I lived at home with my parents, 
who loved me with the blind devotion which is 
frequentlj?^ concentrated upon an only daughter. 
Their views of life were very strict. I was kept 
within the four walls of our home almost as 
closely as if it had been a convent. They denied 
me nothing but the thing which my heart craved 
— liberty. I did not want to do the forbidden 
things, but I did want to have the ban raised. 
I was taught music, vocal and instrumental, by 
the best teachers. For the purpose of develop- 


324 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


ing easy and graceful manners, a dancing- 
master gave me lessons at home twice a week. 
In a word, I was kept in a conservatory, and 
my development was attended to along every 
line, hut I was forbidden to blossom. Like a 
seed which falls into a crevice in a rock, my 
expanding nature broke through its stony en- 
vironment. I ran away. I was young, and 
pretty, and by some ancestor I was endowed 
with an instinctive love of the good, which pro- 
tected me under the most trying circumstances. 
I soon learned to dance and sing sufficiently 
well to please the class of men who frequent 
concert-halls, and I found safety in the multi- 
tude of my admirers. Perhaps if I had drifted 
East instead of West the ordeal might have been 
more severe, but my boys, as I call these rough 
miners, would be the first to resent and punish 
an attack on genuinely pure womanhood.” 

“Do your parents know where you are now?” 
asked Aleen. 

“No. If they did they would travel night 
and day to rescue me from my surroundings. 
I left a note telling them that I was going on a 
vacation, and advised them to make as little 
noise about it as possible. I assured them that 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 325 


I could take care of myself and would return 
safely some day, and that the only effect of a 
public search for me would be to make it im- 
possible for me to come back at all.” 

“But why do you select such a low class of 
theaters ? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ In the first place, I do not select my theaters, 
they select me. Besides, I am safer from recog- 
nition by any of my old friends, and, as I have 
just told you, the men who attend the perform- 
ances on Myers avenue are much more chival- 
rous to an unprotected woman than their 
wealthier brothers.” 

A new light was breaking on Aleen’s vision. 
Her point of view was shifting rapidly. She 
was beginning to see that this girl had not 
chosen her present life because of a desire for 
low and vicious surroundings, but had fled to it 
in response to a natural craving for freedom. 
Her entire manner bore out the truth of her 
statements, and Aleen was firmly convinced that 
with the congenial environment of such a home 
as Donald could provide, Mila would be com- 
pletely weaned from her fondness for the stage. 

She decided to talk to her aunt along this line 
before pursuing the discussion further with 


326 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Mila. Her own heart beat too warmly at the 
thought of a certain individual not to be aroused 
into sympathy in a case of mutual love. 

“I came here to administer a sermon,” she 
said, “and I find my visit must end with an 
apology. I sincerely regret the injustice which 
I have done you, and beg your pardon from the 
bottom of my heart. I will forget that you are 
an actress and only remember that we are girls 
of the same age, and probably moved by the 
same impulses. My point of view has been so 
radically changed in the last hour that I feel it 
necessary to give the matter long and serious 
thought before trying to make myself under- 
stood by Donald’s mother. I came here expect- 
ing to find you quite heartless and avaricious. 
I have been agreeably disappointed and mean 
to help you all that I can. May I come again 
to-morrow?” 

“I will be glad to see you at any time.” 

When Aleen reached home she managed to 
slip quietly up to her room and spent half an 
hour or more in arranging the arguments with 
which she proposed to batter down her aunt’s 
prejudices. 

On coming down-stairs, she found Mrs. Law 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 327 


in the sitting-room, sadly gazing out of the win- 
dow, with a lapful of untouched work. 

“Well, I have seen her. Auntie, and am ready 
to report results, ’ ’ said Aleen, cheerily. 

“You have induced her to go away?” ques- 
tioned Mrs. Law, eagerly. 

“Not exactly, but I have learned several 
things in connection with Miss Walsh and her 
family, which, if true, make it quite possible for 
her to remain here. I will follow up the lines 
opened by to-day’s conversation, and if what she 
says can be proven, there can be no objection 
to her on the score of family. Her pure char- 
acter shows in her face, and I am satisfied that 
she is already weary of the unnatural and arti- 
ficial excitement of her present life. Her 
father and mother are good people, who have 
tried to restrain their daughter’s harmless 
gaiety instead of directing it along right chan- 
nels. She ran away from home in a fit of re- 
bellion. She was starving for a little admira- 
tion, and, like most hungry people, chose quan- 
tity rather than quality, until her appetite was 
surfeited. She has now reached a point where 
she can discriminate. In a boy her action 
would have been condoned as ‘sowing wild 


328 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


oats.’ Unliappily, she is a girl, and the laws 
of society do not prescribe any proper methods 
by which a yonng girl can expel such things 
from her mental system. Mila Walsh is one 
girl in a million in that she has passed through 
this experience unscathed. She truly loves 
Donald, and to force them apart would mean 
ruin for both.” 

Her aunt’s expression during Aleen’s long 
speech defied description. It was almost comi- 
cal in its despair when she concluded. 

“You don’t mean for them to marry each 
other?” exclaimed Mrs. Law, in horror-strick- 
en tones. 

“That is my sole, unqualified solution of the 
trouble.” 

“But, my dear child, that is not a solution, 
it is a precipitation of more trouble. You are 
proposing the very thing which we have been 
planning to avoid.” 

“Yes, Auntie, but we have been working 
completely in the dark, so far as the girl her- 
self was concerned. We have been trying to 
work an example, without taking into consid- 
eration the unknown quantity. No one could 
have been more prejudiced against Miss Walsh 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 329 


than I was. She has won my confidence and 
support by her appearance and manner more 
than by her words. I am sure that if yon will 
talk to her as I have done, you will come to 
the same conclusion regarding this matter,” 
said Aleen, emphatically, as she left the room. 

Mrs. Law sat for a long while, her mother’s 
heart going out in silent prayer for wisdom 
and guidance. She was old enough and wise 
enough to know that enforced separations were 
often as disastrous as forced weddings. She 
was honestly desirous of securing Donald’s 
permanent happiness and welfare, and she was 
beginning to rely more on the instincts of 
Aleen ’s young heart than the Judgment of her 
own old head. She arose almost wishing that 
Aleen ’s solution would prove to be the right 
one. 


330 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XXI 

LOVE ASSAYED 

On the afternoon of the same day, when 
Aleen was returning from the post-office, she 
saw ahead of her Lizzie Hudson and Robert, 
who were walking leisurely together, engaged 
in friendly conversation. This little incident 
seemed like a peep into paradise, the gates of 
which were closed against her by pride. Her 
woman’s imagination magnified it until, in her 
mind’s eye, she could see his friendship for 
Lizzie ripening into love. She tossed in her 
bed all night, and when her eyes finally closed 
in troubled sleep, her mind was filled with un- 
lovely dreams of Robert and some other girl 
strolling along arm in arm. The next morn- 
ing her waking thoughts were not less dis- 
turbed. The demon of worry kept suggesting 
new and dire possibilities. What would Rob- 
ert think of her if he knew that she came to 
Cripple Creek to see him? With his exalted 
ideas of decorum, where would she stand in his 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 331 


estimation if he learned that she had forced 
herself upon his doctor in the false guise of a 
nurse? How his Puritan instincts would be 
shocked to learn of her trip to the White river 
country in search of Hudson, and her narrow 
escape from death, or worse than death, at the 
hands of the half-breed, Corona! She could 
not foretell in her distracted state of mind 
just what bent his obstinate conscience might 
take. In view of the outcome, he probably 
would forgive her interference, and having 
come to this conclusion, her silly little heart 
struck off at a new tangent and wondered 
whether, if he found out the truth, he might 
not marry her out of gratitude, while loving 
Lizzie all the time. Of course, this was all 
very foolish, but if girls were never foolish, 
and men were always wise, there would he few 
stories written and none read. 

These things so distracted her that she was 
on the point of returning to Chicago without 
seeing him again. Her heart went to work 
promptly with plans to circumvent her head. 
Her short talk with Mila had given a tinge of 
romance to Aleen’s nature, as we have seen.' 
She was prone to act first and weigh the conse- 


332 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


quences afterwards. She rather envied Mila 
her triumphant assurance of Donald’s love and 
half a mind to put Eobert to the test. 

“I will see which he prefers, his own staid 
respectability or my love,” thought Aleen. “I 
will test him as Mila has tested Donald.” 

With Aleen, to think was to act, although 
action in her case was not always preceded by 
thought. She quickly put on her hat, and, 
leaving her veil on the rack, walked down Ben- 
nett avenue, passing Eobert ’s office on the op- 
posite side of the street. He glanced out of 
the window, saw the one girl in all the world 
for him, dropped the book he had in his hand, 
as he would almost have dropped his hope of 
salvation for her sake, and was by her side in 
a very few minutes. 

“Aleen,” was his simple salutation, as he 
took her hand in both of his. 

“I am glad to see you. Bob.” 

“I have been trying to learn your where- 
abouts ever since the day of Hudson’s trial,” 
said Eobert. 

“I suppose it would be hard to find me, par- 
ticularly for one of your regular habits. I 
presume that you have been so busy lately that 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 333 


3'ou have had little time to think of an old 
friend.” 

“I will never he that busy, Aleen. Where 
can I call on you?” 

“If you think that your reputation can stand 
it, you can see me at Mrs. Albee’s hoarding- 
house, on Fourth street. My room-mate, Mila 
Walsh, is on the bill to-night at the theater. 
You can come to our room while she is at the 
show, if you wish. I am not going on to- 
night. ’ ’ 

“You are rooming with a girl who dances 
in public?” he asked, frowning. “You do not 
mean to say that you were ever in that place 
which they call a theater ? ’ ’ 

“Oh, yes, things have changed with me, as 
well as with you, during the last year or two. 
I thought best to tell you the facts, so that you 
might keep away from me if you wished to 
do so.” 

“In a variety show, Aleen? I cannot believe 
it,” he said skeptically. 

“Come and see for yourself,” she said, in- 
wardly rejoicing at his perturbation. “I will 
introduce you to Miss Walsh, who is the top- 
liner on this week’s bill, and is a charming 


334 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


girl. If you are afraid of your reputation, 
you need not come. As a matter of fact, it may 
be unwise for you to stand here talking with 
me now.” 

She walked away slowly, not wishing to be 
questioned more closely. 

“I will come at eight o’clock,” he said, quiet- 
ly, and stood there watching her until she was 
out of sight. 

Aleen went at once to Mila’s room. 

“I hope you have not come to urge me to 
give up Donald,” said Mila, smiling. 

“No, my dear, I have become your most act- 
ive advocate with my aunt. In return, I wish 
to ask a favor of you. Can you keep a 
secret?” 

“My whole life for the last six months has 
been a secret. Miss Hilliard. I will be glad to 
do you a favor, notwithstanding your bad 
opinion of me.” 

“My opinion of you has changed consid- 
erably in the last twenty-four hours. I am be- 
ginning to regard you as my good angel. You 
have taught me the value of an honest man’s 
love, a love which would give up home, friends, 
and reputation for the sake of the loved one. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 335 


So impressed have I been •with your test of 
Donald that I am trying the same method on 
someone else.” 

Aleen told Mila of her plan, and gave her a 
brief account of Robert’s and her former rela- 
tions, ending "with the statement that she had 
made an appointment with him for that even- 
ing in Mila’s room. 

“Will you assist me?” she asked, in conclu- 
sion. 

“Gladly,” said Mila, “but do you think it a 
fair test? I judge from your description that 
he has very stubborn ideas of right and 
wrong. ’ ’ 

“He has. It is to try the strength of his 
love that I wish to bring it into conflict with 
his pride.” 

“Suppose that he leaves you in disgust?” 

“He is perfectly capable of doing so. That 
is one of the chances in the game. If it turns 
out that way, I will tell him it was a joke and 
take the next train to Chicago. My vacation 
is about finished, anyway, and I mean to have 
it end in a blaze of glory, if possible. If I lose, 
and still care to do so, I believe that I can 
regain his affection. If I am successful, think 


336 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


of the priceless prize I win. Your own heart 
must tell you that it is well worth the effort 
and the risk. Another thing; I cannot bear to 
have him think that I followed him here, nor 
will I permit him to offer me his heart in grati- 
tude. It is love I want, and it must be an all- 
conquering, all-moving, resistless devotion 
which brings him to my feet. Donald would 
follow you if he lost the friendship and respect 
of every person on earth. That is the way I 
want to be loved.” 

“Do you think that Donald loves me like 
that?” said Mila, her face flushing. 

“Yes, I know it. Are you prepared to sac- 
rifice as much for him? Would you return to 
your parents’ roof, accept his attentions, be- 
come his wife, and leave the stage forever ? ’ ’ 

Mila gave a long sigh as she mentally enu- 
merated the attractions of her present calling. 
Give up dancing and singing? Hear no more 
applause and compliments? Receive no more 
flowers? Surrender the pleasure which I feel 
while giving others pleasure? She turned to 
Aleen. 

“I must have time to think it over. It can- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 337 


not be done in a minute. Ton are asking more 
than you dream.” 

On her way home Aleen’s mind was more 
occupied with Robert than with Donald and 
Mila. She went to her room and spent an 
unusually long time on her toilette. The first 
costume which she put on was discarded as 
being too sombre for a vaudeville artist. The 
second one was, she feared, too gay to suit 
Robert. She finally decided on a gown of soft, 
clinging material, admirably suited to bring 
out the youthful charm of her beautiful figure. 
While Aleen argued to herself that she did not 
want Robert’s love unless she could be sure of 
his whole heart, it was evident that she did 
not propose omitting any detail which might 
assist in his enslavement. She knew, intui- 
tively, that her girlish charm could not be in- 
creased by artificial adornment, and felt that 
a display of jewelry by one in her supposed 
position could be easily misconstrued. When 
she finally stood before her mirror, she was a 
picture of youthful purity and innocence, while 
the sparkle and flush of her novel adventure 
gave an added charm to her face. 

Just before she left the room, Mrs. Law 


338 BOB CAELTON. AMEKICAN 


handed her a letter from her father, which read 
as follows: 

“My dear Daughter: 

“Things have been pretty lively on the 
Stock Exchange since you left. I lost a good 
deal of money last year and recently invested 
about half of my remaining capital, outside 
of our home, in Consolidated Iron, at seventy. 
Denton & Son, my brokers, made the purchase 
on a twenty-point margin. I am glad that you 
understand these things like a man, because I 
have never been able to explain them to your 
mother. The iron company had a strike this 
spring and some of their largest plants were 
closed down during the busiest season. The 
stock dropped to sixty. I mortgaged the home 
and bought a big block around sixty. Then a 
row broke out among the insiders. Two or 
three directors resigned, and several of the 
practical men in the business have gone to 
work for competitors, or are building plants 
of their own, backed by the directors who pulled 
out. In order to raise money for these new 
plants, large blocks of stock have been thrown 
on the market, breaking the price to fifty-one. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 339 


There is always a crowd of investors who buy 
at the top and sell at the bottom, and they are 
in danger of stampeding at any moment. My 
brokers are asking for more margins. They 
have already carried me longer than their judg- 
ment sanctions, but if things go to pieces and 
a flood of stop-loss orders are thrown on the 
market, it will clean me out. 

"'‘Mr. Denton has spoken to me of his love 
for you, and has asked my permission to marry 
you. He has felt himself in a rather delicate 
position because of our financial relations, and 
does not wish to take advantage of these un- 
fortunate circumstances by pressing matters, 
either financial or matrimonial, at the present 
time. I am sure, however, from hints dropped 
by himself and his father, that if this deal could 
be considered a family matter, that the firm of 
Denton & Son would arrange to carry the stock 
until the market advances, as it is sure to do. 

“So you see, little girl, the outcome is en- 
tirely in your hands. Every dollar that we 
have on earth is involved. If anyone would 
hint that I would sacrifice your happiness to 
save my fortune I would strike him down, but 
I have always thought that you regarded Mr. 


340 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Denton as a worthy young man and a desirable 
companion. His character and habits are far 
above the ordinary, and I am sure that he 
would make you a faithful, loving husband. To 
the best of our knowledge, you are heart-whole 
and fancy-free. Please come home at once and 
permit Mr. Denton to present his own case. 
Your mother and I are satisfied to leave our 
future happiness and welfare in your hands. 

“Your loving Father.” 

Aleen read the letter slowly and a smile of 
contempt came over her face as the real mean- 
ing of Denton’s offer and threat sank deeper 
into her consciousness. Had not Mila Walsh 
indignantly spurned a money-offer for her 
love? Aleen felt inspired by the example of 
the despised singer. 

Two weeks before she had received a letter 
from Denton, urging his suit and asking an 
affirmative answer to his proposal. The ava- 
lanche of events had crowded the matter into 
the background of her mind, and she had made 
no reply. Had she written at all, she would 
have sent a decided negative, but since her 
jealous dreams of the night before a thousand 
contingencies suggested themselves. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 341 


Suppose Robert really loved Lizzie Hudson? 
If that "were true, Aleen’s heart would perish, 
and the dead, pulseless thing might as well go 
to the highest bidder. If Robert married her 
from a sense of obligation, his newly-made for- 
tune would he heavily taxed to support her 
aged and impoverished parents, the parents 
who had driven him into exile and now placed 
her on the auction-block. She could return to 
Chicago and in a little while his heart would 
find solace. It is true that she would he miser- 
able for life, but, in a way, her sacrifice would 
keep Robert from assuming an unjust burden. 

Robert’s enduring example of perpetual self- 
abnegation was commencing to produce an ef- 
fect on Aleen. She resolved to save him from 
himself. While the pendulum was at this end 
of the arc, she threw herself on her bed and 
sobbed like a child. Hope was dead and life 
was a blank. She sprang up, resolved to find 
Robert and cancel the foolish engagement to 
meet at Mila’s room. Then she sank down in 
despair, realizing that any rational explana- 
tion of her impulse was impossible. Existence 
seemed to her like a succession of traps, each 


342 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


one easy to enter, but impossible of egress, and 
leading into new complications. 

Of the two humiliations, she chose the lesser 
one of going to Mila’s room and playing the 
farce through to the drop of the curtain. 

Before starting out, she burned all her 
bridges by writing a letter to Denton, promis- 
ing to be his wife, and another brief note to her 
father, informing him of her action, and stat- 
ing that she would start for Chicago the fol- 
lowing day. These letters she mailed as she 
passed the postofQce. 

Aleen did not look like the vivacious young 
lady of the morning when she started for Mila’s 
room to carry out the deception which she had 
planned. 

“How sad you look,” said Mila, as she met 
Aleen at the door. 

“No sadder than I feel. I am so sorry that 
I allowed my foolish impulse to control me 
this afternoon.” 

“my so?” 

“Because it will give useless pain to another. 
It is immaterial now how he regards me. I 
cannot explain further.” 

Mila would have questioned her more close- 


BOB CARLTON. AMERICAN 343 


ly, had not the bell rung at that moment. Not 
hearing any sound from below, she tripped 
lightly down-stairs and opened the door. 

‘•'Does Miss Hilliard live here?” asked Rob- 
ert. 

“Yes, won’t you come in?” answered Mila. 

“Come right up-stairs. Bob,” called Aleen, 
giving him her hand when he reached the top. 

“This is my chum. Miss Walsh, Mr. Carlton. 
She is obliged to go to the theater now, but 1 
am at liberty and can stay at home this even- 
ing, unless you would like to see the perform- 
ance,” said Aleen, feeling pretty sure which 
way he would decide. 

“I prefer staying here,” he said. His wor- 
ried expression caused her once more to repent 
her folly, but she saw no way of extricating 
herself. She must play the game to the end. 

“Well, I’m off,” said Mila. “I will cut out 
all of the encores that I can and hurry home. 
In the meanwhile I hope you will not be lone- 
some without me.” 

They heard her pass aown the stairs and 
close the outer door before either broke the 
silence. Then it was Robert who spoke. 


344 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“Aleen, what are you doing in such a place 
and with such a companion!” 

“My companion is alright. You will like 
her better when you have known her longer. 
As for the place, I warned you about disgrac- 
ing yourself by coming here.” 

“Have I ever considered myself when you 
were involved, Aleen? I am concerned about 
your welfare and reputation, not mine. No 
place could be so dark but what your presence 
would illumine it in my eyes. But why are you 
here?” and he desperately paced the floor. 

Aleen bitterly regretted the suffering which 
she was causing Robert. She sought to gain 
time by counter-accusations. 

“That is a pretty speech. Bob, but a word 
or two of farewell on the night that you left 
Ashland would have been much more welcome. 
You did not even tell me where you were going. 
In fact, you did not let me know that you were 
going at all.” 

“Aleen, I left parents, home and friends in 
order that I might make a fortune to lay at 
your feet. I promised your father that I would 
never ask you to marry me until I could sur- 
round you with the comforts and luxuries that 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 345 


you had always enjoyed. You may have heard 
that the Hudson claims were sold yesterday 
for four hundred thousand dollars. One-half 
of that money is mine. For the first time since 
1 left Ashland, I feel that I- can tell you of my 
love without breaking my word to your 
father.” 

“But surely you do not wish to marry me 
now that you have seen where and with whom 
I am living?” 

“How little you know me after all,” said 
Robert, as he stopped in front of her and threw 
back his shoulders with the same gesture of 
confidence, which she had seen at the trial of 
Jack Hudson. “Love that has starved long as 
mine is not to be denied when it sees the loved 
one so pure and beautiful, fairly within reach. 
If my love had been dependent upon your phy- 
sical presence or condition, it would not have 
endured exile and privation for all these years. 
I have always loved you for yourself. My af- 
fection was no greater when you were in a pal- 
ace than it is now that you are living in an 
actors’ boarding-house. No worldly misfor- 
tune could drive me from your side. Why, 
then, should I hesitate because I find you in 


346 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


these surroundings! I do not know what has 
brought you to this condition, but, thank God, 
I have the power and the desire to restore you 
to your proper station. I have never seen 
you or known you in your capacity of ballet- 
girl. To me you are, and always will be, 
Aleen. My love is as enduring as these moun- 
tains. I do not pretend to control it. It con- 
trols me.” 

His sincerity was so evident that she trem- 
bled with joy. She felt more guilty than ever 
for deceiving a man capable of such deep and 
constant devotion. She opened her lips to 
make full confession, but before she could put 
her thoughts into words, he sat down beside 
her and lifting her hands continued as though 
in soliloquy : 

“How often have I seen this little hand in 
dreams, and wondered if I would ever touch it 
again. AVhen I close my eyes at night I can 
behold the old schoolhouse, with every disfig- 
urement, softened and idealized by your image. 
I recall the stray locks of golden hair, which 
hung distractingly near my schoolbook when I 
tried to study. To see the child whom I so wor- 
shipped grown into a woman and more than 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 347 


fulfilling every promise of her girlhood rivets 
more tightly than ever the fetters which I vol- 
untarily assumed when but a boy. Why try 
to throw them off? I would not if I could, 
and I could not if I would. ’ ’ 

He held her hand in both of his and looked 
into her clear eyes, glistening with unshed tears. 

“My life belongs to you, Aleen. When you 
came to me in jail I dared to hope that you 
loved me. At that time I had no right to 
speak. Now there are no barriers between 
us.” 

He felt her hand tremble. She could keep 
silent no longer. Her long lashes rose and dis- 
closed a pair of large, serious, honest eyes, 
whose sad expression alarmed him. 

“Bob, you must not talk to me in that way. 
I have no right to listen to you. I have 
wronged and deceived you by bringing you to 
this place. I meant to test your love. The 
loyalty of my cousin, Donald, towards Miss 
Walsh, who is really a public singer, put the 
foolish notion into my head. I wanted to see 
whether you would be equally devoted. I 
never saw Miss Walsh in my life until night 
before last. I have never been on the stage.” 


348 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


As she said this, delight broke over his face, 
and he would have taken her in his arms but 
she put up both hands to prevent his doing so. 

“Wait, Bob, I have not told you all. Cir- 
cumstances which are absolutely unexplainable 
have changed my whole plan of life since this 
mad prank started.” She hesitated and swol- 
lowed the lump which rose in her throat. “I 
am to be married in Chicago next month.” 

His face showed intense agony as she pro- 
nounced the death-sentence of his hopes. 

“Aleen, I cannot believe it,” he finally man- 
aged to stammer, dropping her hand. 

“It is true,” she said sadly. “In asking 
you here to-night I have added one more pang 
to those which I have given you in the past. 
Believe me, that when I did it, I had no idea of 
the depth of your love for me.” 

“You said you did it to test my love,” he 
said, his honest heart dazed in its attempt to 
follow the tracery of a woman’s whim. 

“Oh, Bob, you can never understand the 
changes that a few hours have made in my life. 
To attempt an explanation would increase your 
suffering,” she replied. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 349 


“If you knew this morning that you were to 
marry someone else — ” he mused. 

“That is what I cannot make clear to you. 
Please attribute my action to the basest selfish- 
ness and forgive me for the last time. I hon- 
estly believe that from now on I will cease to 
trouble you.” 

“Of course, I will forgive you. My whole 
life has been a praj^er to shield you from dis- 
tress. Mrhy should I burden you with my un- 
forgiveness ? ” said the broken-hearted man. 

They heard a rap at the door. Aleen opened 
it, and to their mutual surprise, revealed Don- 
ald. He had let himself into the house with a 
pass-key and had come quietly up the stairs, 
intending to surprise Mila. 

“Aleen, you here ?” he said in surprise, “and 
with Carlton?” 

“Yes, Don, we are both here. Come in and 
do not commence to preach conventionalities 
at this late day. We, at least, have not a pass- 
key,” smiled Aleen. 

“AVhere is Mila?” queried Donald. 

“At the show, I suppose. She left here for 
there sometime ago,” said Aleen. 

“Well, she has not been near the theater to- 


350 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


night. Old Forbes was in an awful stew. The 
boys were ready to mob him and would not be- 
lieve it was not a put-np job. I must go look 
for her,” said the excited Donald, completely 
forgetting his desire for an explanation of the 
presence of Aleen and Robert in Mila’s room. 

“Wait a moment, Don. Mila can take care 
of herself. You need not worry about her. 1 
made her acquaintance yesterday. I may as 
well admit that I came here at that time hoping 
to induce her to leave town and break off with 
you. I even went so far as to offer her money 
if she would do so. She spurned the proposal. 
I then questioned her about herself and her 
family, and I convinced her that the only sal- 
vation for both of you was for her to leave the 
stage, return to her parents and accept your 
addresses under their roof. I am sure that 
this plan will meet with your mother’s ap- 
proval. I believe that Mila has stayed away 
from the theater to-night for the purpose of 
completing her preparations to go home, and 
that Cripple Creek will see her no more until 
she is cast in the role of Mrs. Donald Law,” 
concluded Aleen, almost forgetting her own 


BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 351 


misery in her anxiety to promote the happiness 
of Mila and Donald. 

“God grant that you are right, dearest 
cousin, and heaven bless you for your assist- 
ance,” said the beaming Donald. “If she 
would only give up the theater,” he sighed 
doubtfully. 

“No great or permanent reforms are ever 
made on a ‘ giving-up ’ basis, ’ ’ said Robert. ‘ ‘ It 
is only when lower desires are supplanted by 
higher ones that one becomes truly better. Be- 
lieve me, that if Mila loves you, she will never 
admit that she has given up anything. Love 
is a constant taking-on process when it is genu- 
ine, and while it may make sacrifices, does so 
unconsciously,” and he gazed reproachfully at 
Aleen. 

“Well, I hope you are right, old man. As a 
theorist, you have me beaten a mile, but I judge 
from appearances that in practice I have rather 
the better of you. Good night, young folks. 
I am off to look for Mila,” and he bounded out 
of the room. 

Robert and Aleen walked home without 
speaking. Aleen in spirit fairly groveling at 


352 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


the feet of Mila and felt humiliated by the loy- 
alty of the singing-girl. 

When they reached Mr. Law’s gate, she stood 
with it half-open, gazing up at Eobert in mute 
appeal. A fleecy cloud passed over the moon 
and she drew a little nearer to him. Oh, if the 
whole world could only return into chaos with 
the break of day, how happy she would be to 
have spent the last hours in his arms. But 
she had a practical strain in her, drawn from 
her English ancestry, and it was commencing 
to assert itself. She was tempted to tell Eob- 
ert that she would break her engagement, but 
the thought of taking his money to buy ease for 
her parents shamed her. 

No. She would play the game. If she must 
be sold for a price, it should be to the man 
who had openly bid for her and who had no 
right to expect any affection in return for his 
money. She at least would not suffer the one 
she loved to enter into such a sordid competi- 
tion. 

Something in Aleen’s posture as she half- 
leaned towards him revealed to Eobert the 
trend of her thoughts. Taking both of her 
unresisting hands in his, he asked; 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 353 


“Do you love this man that you are going 
to marry, Aleen?” 

He held his breath awaiting her answer. She 
stood mute as a statue while she struggled with 
her thoughts. Her silence was sufficient reply, 
but she finally said: 

“You have no right to ask me.” 

“And you have no need to tell me, dearest,” 
he said, and then added with growing ardor: 
“If I thought you loved me as I love you, I 
would take you in my arms and carry you into 
these mountains where no man could come be- 
tween us.” 

“Oh, Bob, please do it,” she sobbed, and laid 
her head upon his breast while his strong arms 
drew her to him. 

This was but a passing impulse, however, 
and her real nature soon asserted itself. 

“This is wrong. Bob. We must not act in 
this way. I am almost the wife of another. 
Good-bye. I leave to-morrow. I will not see 
you again. God give you the love of a better, 
truer girl than I am capable of being.” 

He stooped over as she lifted her face to his. 
His breathing was in gasps. She lifted her 


354 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


chin just the nearest trifle higher and his hot 
breath flamed her hair. 

“Aleen.” 

“Bob.” 

Their lips met in their first lover’s kiss. As 
he released her she walked slowly up the path 
towards the house, with down-cast eyes, half 
dead with shame, half winged with joy, while 
Robert stixmbled along the sidewalk, guided 
towards Hudson’s cabin more by instinct than 
by sight or reason. 

As he passed Mrs. Albee’s hoarding-house, 
he heard a voice call his name. Turning around, 
he was surprised to see Miss Walsh standing 
in the doorway. 

“I have been waiting for you, Mr. Carlton. 
Please come up-stairs.” 

He followed her, unquestionably still, in a 
semi-dazed condition. 

“I do not know what has occurred between 
you and Miss Hilliard, but I judge from your 
expression that your course of true love is no 
exception to the rule. Now Miss Hilliard has 
helped me, and I propose to assist her by doing 
something which at first glance looks like a be- 
trayal of her confidence. Here is a letter she 



ff 


<4 


‘Aleen!’ 









tl 


BOB CAKLTON, AMEEICAN 355 


dropped. I read part of it to see to whom it 
belonged, and I beheld at a glance that it was 
up to little me to get busy as Cupid’s under- 
study. Take it. You will find in it a key to 
much that is otherwise unaccountable in Miss 
Hilliard’s actions to-day and this evening,” 
said Mila, extending her hand with a crumpled 
letter in it. 

“I do not believe in reading other people’s 
letters. Miss Walsh, nor do I desire to share 
the confidence of one who has done so,” said 
Eobert. 

“Here, here, Mr. Carlton. Please do not 
put me in the mail-robbing class. I told you 
why I read some of the letter, and I don’t mind 
telling you that I am not urging matters out of 
sympathy for you. You could probably take 
your self-righteousness into a corner and be 
happy in your misery. It is Aleen that I am 
thinking of. She loves you, and so long as 
she does I am going to do what I can to get you 
two safely married. After that, she must take 
her chances. I must confess that they don’t 
appeal to me,” said the aroused Mila. “You 
have no right to sacrifice others on the altar of 
your rigid ideas. Eead the letter, and if it 


356 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


does not arouse your manhood, I will agree to 
drop the whole business and devote myself to 
developing Don. Two of you to bring up is too 
big a bill for me.” 

Something in her positive manner induced 
him to obey. He unfolded Mr. Hilliard’s let- 
ter and read it through carefully. 

“Pardon me for speaking as I did. Miss 
Walsh. You were justified in all that you 
said. Prom now on I will convince you and 
some others that I am not an antagonist to be 
despised and ignored.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 357 


CHAPTEE XXII 


PLAYING A NEW GAME 

Three days later two men entered the ro- 
tunda of the Auditorium Hotel, in Chicago. 
Their tanned faces and observant expressions 
stamped them as strangers from the far West, 
hut there was a knowing look in their eyes that 
deterred confidence-men from approaching too 
closely. Whatever may be the popular opin- 
ion, not all strangers in large cities are fleeced, 
nor does the most blase boulevardier in the 
world always escape the lures offered by easy- 
money propositions. The question is not so 
much, “Do you read the papers'!” as it is, 
“Are you trying to get the better of someone 
else'?” If the latter can be answered affirma- 
tively, whether you were raised on a farm or 
Fifth avenue, some day someone will be just a 
little sharper or a little less scrupulous than 
you. Eliminate this class of humanity and that 
other class which seeks its amusement away 


358 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


from the paths of decency and sobriety, and the 
swindler would soon starve to death. 

Jack and Robert, for it was none else, regis- 
tered and were assigned to a comfortable 
double-room on the Michigan avenue side of 
the hotel. Prom their window they could see 
the broad water of Lake Michigan stretching 
out to the eastern horizon. Jack said: 

“Let’s set still awhile, Bob, and jest look at 
that lake. Ain’t it the derndest, purtiest thing 
ye ever see? I am so tired of flat ground and 
dusty prairies that it feels like throwing cold 
water in my eyes, jest to look at it.” 

“It is certainly a grand body of water,” re- 
plied Robert, “and it is unfortunate that Chi- 
cago did not see its beauty and preserve it 
before so much of its shore was turned over to 
a railroad.” 

“Railroads ain’t purty things, Bob, but I 
reckon that they are some useful in buildin’ up 
a town like this. Personally, I don’t see no 
use in bunchin’ people in sech big crowds. The 
mountains fer me an’ room to stretch out in.” 

He gazed at the window a few minutes before 
speaking again. 

“Of course, we’ve got more money than we 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 359 


kin ever spend, Bob, but wben you remember 
bow bard you bad to work fer yer first thirty 
dollars in Cripple Creek, it seems kind o’ tougb 
to pay it out fer three days’ rent on a room 
like this.” 

“Talk about pay-dirt,” he continued, “this 
vein, I reckon, is about twelve feet wide (allud- 
ing to the height of the room) an’ extends to 
the big fissure in three directions, an’ they’re 
taldn’ several thousand dollars out of it every 
day. Beats minin’, don’t it?” 

“You must remember,” said Robert, “that it 
is a pretty expensive proposition to maintain a 
hotel like this. Lots of brains and money and 
energy were expended here before a dollar was 
recovered.” 

“That’s right, old man. I was figurin’ like 
some of them socialists out in Cripple what 
want to divide the results, but are willin’ to 
let the ‘capitalistic element’ do the preliminary 
work and take all the chances. Did ye notice 
the cage that they brung us up in? Stratton 
ought to have one like that in the Indepen- 
dence.” 

Their preparations for dinner were simple 
and quickly made, and they were soon seated 


360 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


in the big dining-room of the annex. Eobert, 
wbo knew tbe ropes, piloted Jack tbrougb tbe 
tunnel wbicb passes under Congress street. 

Tbe two friends ordered a substantial din- 
ner and were enjoying it more tborougbly than 
tbeir city-bred neighbors. Hudson gazed in 
disgust at the nibblers around him. 

“These people spoil enough vittles to grub- 
stake an orphan asylum,” he said. “They’re 
sendin’ enough stuff back to the kitchen to feed 
the night shift at the Portland. I was leadin’ 
the bunch until the third lap, but I’ve been 
distanced ever since. Ef I thought I was goin’ 
to git like that I’d put my property into Katie’s 
name and go back to prospectin’.” 

He gave a long sigh, and then started as 
his gaze rested on a dinner-party at the next 
table. 

“Bob,” he whispered, “they’re just as bad 
on throwin’ away clothes as on sending back 
grub. There’s enough cut out of that woman’s 
dress to make another one like it.” 

“Keep still, Jack. Gentlemen are not sup- 
posed to notice such things.” 

“They ain’t, eh? I’ll bet that the minute 
gentlemen quit noticin’ the women folks, they’ll 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 361 


cover up an’ be comfortable,” grunted the cy- 
nical Jack. 

Eobert smiled an assent and the meal con- 
tinued in silence. 

The next morning they presented their cre- 
dentials at the Lexington National Bank, and 
after opening an account, started for the office 
of a broker recommended by the cashier of the 
bank. 

“All of these fellers walk like they was goin’ 
to a fire,” remarked Hudson, as they went 
along La Salle street. ‘ ‘ I suppose each of ’em 
has a sure-thing scheme and is afraid someone 
will beat him to the sucker. They needn’t 
worry. If you just make a bait big enough 
you’ll have plenty of nibbles. The bigger the 
bait, the bigger the fish. Women what smile 
over the ignorant farmers’ wives whio sub- 
scribe fer Fireside Companion in order to git 
dinky premiums, step on each others’ trains 
to git a chance to pay a thousand dollars fer 
a book. They ain’t so much difference in 
folks. The persimmon that grins at his fallen 
neighbor is only waitin’ fer someone with a 
longer pole to come along.” 


362 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


“Wliy, Jack, you are quite a philosopher,” 
smiled Eobert. 

“Yes, there’s another thing. Polks is sur- 
prised to hear a rube talk philosophy. Wis- 
dom comes in nuggets like gold, an’ city fellers 
get mighty few chances to find any nuggets. 
The best they kin do is to polish up someone 
else’s find or else gold-plate a chunk of base 
metal. Most of the pure gold is in the woods 
an’ mountains an’ on the farms.” 

“You are talking heresy. Jack. You will 
change your mind after you have met some of 
the brainy men of Chicago.” 

“Mebbe. I reckon I met one of ’em on the 
train yesterday. He perked up real friendly 
when he saw I wus a miner. Don’t see how 
he knowed. Said he had some stock in a mine 
an’ told me the name. I said I’d never heard 
of it. Said it only cost him five cents a share. 
I said thet at the present price of white paper 
there wus still some money in minin’ stock at 
five cents a share. He said his company owned 
ten acres in the Cripple Creek district, within 
two miles of the Independence. I said I knowed 
folks to starve to death in the same block with 
a butcher-shop. He didn’t know whether his 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 363 


mine was patented or what the capital stock 
of his company wus. I told him that if his 
company was shy on land they could git several 
more acres at about six bits per, an’ if a burro 
was a good walker he might find enough grass 
on it fer a meal. If the grass guv out, I suggested 
feedin’ him the minin’ stock. He grunted that 
he wusn’t in the live-stock bizness an’ I said, 
‘Right ye are, partner. Ye’re in the dead- 
stock bizness, dead-minin’ stock,’ I sez. That 
wasn’t so bad. Bob.” 

The broker whom they wanted to see was on 
the floor of the Stock Exchange, so they hired 
a carriage and told the driver to take them 
slowly through the down-town streets and out 
to Lincoln park and over part of the Lake 
Shore drive. 

“Say, Bob, look at that fer a buildin’,” ex- 
claimed Jack, as they passed the Masonic 
Temple corner. “The wind is tearin’ down 
that ravine wuss’n Windy Point. I ain’t 
skeered to go down as fer as the next man, but 
when I go as high up in the air as that roof, I 
want a mountain under me.” 

“That is certainly a tall building,” admitted 
Robert. 


364 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“I suppose that the only space thet ain’t pre- 
empted around here is the sky. They’ve got 
to spread uppards er bust, I reckon. By 
mighty, them Irishman wusn’t so fer off that 
told us about building sky-scrapers with hinges 
in the middle so they could fold ’em up to let 
the moon go past.” 

‘ ‘ They are not quite so high as that, ’ ’ laughed 
Robert. 

They soon passed the wholesale district and 
reached that portion of the northside where 
former residences of wealthy people have been 
transformed into boarding and rooming-houses. 
Thence it was only a few minutes ’ drive to the 
entrance to Lincoln park, guarded by St. Gau- 
dens ’ magnificent statue of the martyred presi- 
dent. Nowhere else is rugged manliness so 
superbly personified. 

“Wait a minute, driver. Let’s don’t shoot 
past old Abe like he was a lamp-post,” Hudson 
called out. ‘ ‘ There ain ’t many figgers like that 
on earth an’ a country that kin produce sech a 
man is safe from dyin’ out fer another century 
or two.” 

After the drive was resumed, both were sil- 
ent for a few minutes. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 365 


“Ef ye could loan yer gal some money 
wouldn’t that sorter derail the other feller?” 
asked Jack. 

‘ ‘ Oh, I would gladly loan her what they need, 
or give it to her, but that would not accomplish 
my purjpose. In the first place, she would not 
take it from me, and in the second place it 
would be like pouring sand into a rat-hole, with 
this ditference : Our friends, the enemy, would 
be at the other end of the hole, drawing off the 
sand as fast as we poured it in. The only 
thing that I know about this La Salle street 
game is that I don’t know anything about it. 
That is more than most greenhorns realize, 
however, and is a good foundation.” 

“Ye’re right, Bob. Study the game before 
ye buy any chips, an’ buy white chips to start 
with. After we’ve learned values, there’ll be 
no trouble about removin’ the limit. I never 
see one yet that wus nailed on.” 

By this time they were rattling over the cob- 
blestones at the north end of Michigan avenue 
on their return trip, and soon stopped in front 
of the office of Beck & Company. They found 
Mr. Beck, the senior partner, awaiting them in 
his private room. 


366 BOB CAKLTON, AMERICAN 


They presented their letter, which Mr. Beck 
read as carefully as though he had not been 
given full particulars regarding them over the 
bank telephone. After a few minutes of gene- 
ral conversation, Robert said: “We are par- 
ticularly interested in Consolidated Iron. Can 
you tell us its capitalization and give us a list 
of its tangible assets, outside of good-will, pat- 
ents and other inflatable items?” 

The broker was a little surprised at the lack 
of information shown by this inquiry, but it 
was his business to deal in stock, not surmises. 

“Its capital stock is two and a half million, 
all preferred. They have over a million dol- 
lars in good assets under the hammer. They 
have always paid one and a half percent divi- 
dends quarterly and earned considerable 
more. ’ ’ 

“Struck a lean streak, mebbe?” questioned 
Hudson. 

“If you mean that they are operating un- 
profitably at present, I think not,” replied the 
broker. 

“Then why is it so low?” asked Robert. 

“Well,” said the broker, “it is a close cor- 
poration, or at least a close-mouthed one. It 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 367 


is not a big concern as things are reckoned 
now-a-days. The Dentons and their friends 
own the control and seem just now to be de- 
pressing the stock. As they are buying and 
selling their own property, they can put any 
price they desire on it. The public will not 
interfere with their game, because the public 
is always afraid of internal disagreements in 
these small companies.” 

“How long has it paid dividends?” asked 
Robert. 

“For several years. Since its organization, 
in fact. If it looks attractive to you, I will 
show you their last annual statement,” said 
Mr. Beck. 

“I would like to see it. How was the mar- 
ket yesterday?” asked Robert. 

Mr. Beck ran his finger down the sales-sheet 
of the day before. 

“Fifty and a half,” he replied. 

“Think she’s down to hard-pan, or will they 
drop her another level?” asked Hudson. 

“That is one of the hardest questions to 
answer in this business,” said Mr. Beck, with a 
smile. 

“See if you can pick up a thousand shares 


368 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


for me at fifty-one or better,” said Robert, as 
coolly as if be were ordering Inncheon. 

“I’ll take the same, Mr. Beck,” said Hud- 
son, “an’ put both the deals in my name, J. 
Hudson.” 

“We will want a twenty-point margin on 
stock that is being hammered as hard as this 
is,” said Mr. Beck. 

Robert was not versed in the phraseology of 
the ticker. He looked at Jack inquiringly. 

“Blessed if I know,” replied that worthy, in 
response to Robert’s unspoken query. “On- 
less it’s the part on the ’stificate what ain’t 
spiled by the printin’. What is this margin 
bizness?” he asked Mr. Beck. 

“That is the amount of money which you 
pay down on the stock to guarantee the trans- 
action,” explained the broker. “If you want 
the actual delivery made, you will have to pay 
the full price.” 

“That’s our game,” said Hudson. “I don’t 
keer to buck the tiger on the installment plan.” 

“You gentlemen are from the West, I judge,” 
remarked Mr. Beck. 

“How did you guess it? I ’lowed Bob looked 
like a French dancin ’-master an’ I’m more on 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 369 


the lines uv a West Point graduate,” grinned 
Jack, glancing in a mirror at his stooped 
shoulders. “Yes, partner, we are frum the 
West an’ we’ll be frum Chicago an’ back to 
the West as soon as we put through this little 
deal. Carlton’s a kind o’ half-lawyer, half- 
prize-fighter and I’m just a common, ordinary 
plug-prospector. ’ ’ 

Each man made out his check for the amount 
of his bid, plus brokerage, and Mr. Beck was 
soon at the telephone, communicating with his 
man on the floor of the exchange. In a little 
while he returned and reported the purchase of 
a thoiisand shares at fifty and a half to fifty- 
one. 

“What’s the use of fightin’ hear with twenty- 
two’s, Bob?” asked Jack. “Let’s load fer 
big game while we’ve got the powder.” 

Robert agreed with him, hut as it was nearly 
two o’clock, they deferred action until the next 
day, leaving an order with Beck & Company to 
buy two thousand shares the following morn- 
ing at fifty-one. 

That afternoon they went to the Coliseum to 
see the horse-show. 

“Gee, I’d think they’d be af eared to shut up 


370 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


everything an’ come out here in the middle of 
the day,” said Jack, as he surveyed the mul- 
titude. “The streets must look funny with no- 
body on ’em,” he soliliquized. 

Robert smilingly assured him that the streets 
were just as crowded as in the morning. 

“Well, I’d never guess within a thousand on 
that bunch. I’m purty good on cattle or ponies, 
but when these gals git their fixins on, it kind 
o’ blurs things. I reckon that most of these 
folks would never miss the bosses if they failed 
to show up. But there’s certainly plenty of 
other things to look at. Still, they all look 
purty near alike, after all.” 

“But there is a vast difference in them,” 
sighed Robert, as he glanced over the crowd 
wistfully. He knew that Aleen loved horses 
and hoped to see her in the audience. 

“The gineral plan is about the same,” ar- 
gued Jack. “They’ve all got the same allot- 
ment of hands an’ feet, an’ most of their faces 
can be sorted into two classes : them as hasn ’t 
landed an’ looks eager an’ them as has an’ 
looks disappointed. Why is it that a feller 
cuts one out of the bunch and risks his neck 


BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 371 


to rope that partickler one an’ pays no atten- 
tion to the prancin’ of the others?” 

“Each has her peculiar charm, Jack, and 
each fills an empty niche in some one’s heart,” 
sighed Robert. 

“Yes, or in his head. Ef you’d put blinders 
over their eyes so’s they couldn’t ogle, a stran- 
ger would be willin’ to shake ’em up in a bag 
an’ grab the top one. The men think they do 
the pickin’, but they don’t any more’n a lump 
of sugar selects which fly will light on it.” 

“What would Katie say to such doctrine?” 
asked Robert. 

“Katie is different. No fly’d he fool enough 
to light on a chunk of lead, except it took pity 
on its lonesomeness. Katie ain’t a woman. 
She’s an angel. Turn a feller loose to pick a 
winner out of tliis bunch, an’ he’d pick the one 
that picked him, I tell you.” 

“There may be a similarity in appearance. 
Jack, but there is a big difference in character.” 

“Yes, but ye can’t tell about that ontil after 
ye’ve found out yer mistake. If it was them 
bosses, there are certain signs you can go by. 
Ye can tell a biter er a kicker by one eye and 
ye can figger out the age by the teeth an’ ye 


372 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


can detect most of the blemishes ef ye’re an 
expert. But the wisest men from Adam down 
has ben fooled by women. Course Adam didn’t 
have no standard of comparison an’ no option. 
He tuk what the Lord gin him. But ef he’d 
had a million to pick frum, like as not he’d ha’ 
chose one with a weakness fer apples. I’ll 
bet if that gal o’ your’n was here to-day there 
wouldn’t be no mob fightin’ to git near her an’ 
yet ye wouldn’t swap her fer a regiment of the 
others. ’ ’ 

“It is probably a fortunate thing that tastes 
differ,” admitted Robert. 

The next day they visited Beck’s office. Den- 
ton was determined that Consolidated Iron 
should not go above fifty-one, and sold Beck two 
thousand more shares at that figure. Beck took 
his two customers over to the Stock Exchange 
to let them hear the noise. They were sur- 
prised at the volume of sound emanating from 
so few men. It was an impressive scene. The 
flurry in Consolidated Iron was the biggest 
thing that had come their way in months. 

At the close of the call, Denton asked to be 
introduced to Beck’s new customers. Robert 
saw them approaching and made his way to the 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 373 


corridor. Hudson acknowledged the introduc- 
tion with a rather curt nod of the head. 

“I see you are picking up a little Consoli- 
dated Iron,” said Denton, surprised at the un- 
couth appearance of his antagonist. “Our 
friends are in control, and would be very glad 
to meet you.” 

“Thank ye,” said Jack, “I ain’t lookin’ fer 
no job on the directory. Twelve percent fer 
my money looked purty good to me, so I dipped 
in.” 

Denton thought from Hudson’s talk and ap- 
pearance that he would be an easy man to 
frighten. 

“I hope we will pull out alright, but I 
wouldn’t advise anyone to buy for a quick turn. 
It will go lower before it goes higher. The 
strike came at a bad time. We are selling our 
stock. That shows what we think of it,” said 
Denton. 

“Mebbe; out West when a feller wants to 
onload fer fair, he onloads fust an’ condoles 
with his fren’s arterwards. When he admits 
thet he’s sellin’ an’ gits out a band fer the 
street an’ another one fer his hat, the real 
knowin’ ones loads up. The poorhouse in 


374 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


Cripple Creek is filled •with fellers what bought 
on a tip that the insiders was buyin’.” 

Denton tugged at his mustache and Beck 
smiled. 

“I presume that you have about all you 
want,” ventured Denton. 

“Well, I kin stand some more ef I kin git it 
at fifty-one or better. Tell yer friends to cheer 
up. They don’t stand to lose much more’n 
what they have lost. I think I can pick up 
what’s loose at present prices.” 

This was not very comforting to the broker, 
but he walked away, affecting unconcern. 

“Buy me another thousand to-morrow at 
fifty-one,” said Robert to Beck, on the way to 
the office. 

“Make it two,” said Hudson. 

“I think you will have difficulty in getting 
all of it at that price to-morrow, gentlemen,” 
said Beck. “Denton is working to keep the 
price down for some reason. He may have a 
big block up his sleeve, but if he does not look 
out he will be selling short, and may have 
trouble with his deliveries.” 

“Remember that we insist on deliveries,” 
said Robert firmly. 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 375 


“Yes,” said Hudson, ”we ain’t buyin’ stuf- 
fin’ fer toy balloons.” 

The next day Beck bought two thousand 
shares at fifty-one. They were thrown on the 
market in blocks of five hundred in the hope 
that each block would crush “that short-grass 
bull,” as Denton called Hudson. 

They had now bought five thousand shares, 
representing one-fifth of the entire capital stock 
of the company, and had locked up over one- 
half of their joint capital. At each call they 
looked for an advance, but the supply seemed 
unlimited. Hudson smiled at every transac- 
tion, while Robert’s jaw became more rigid 
each time that Denton called out, “Five hun- 
dred,” in response to Beck’s bid. 

Except for an occasional scalper, the Con- 
solidated Iron party had no additions, either 
as buyer or seller. It was a battle royal be- 
tween worthy antagonists. 

The next day they left an order with Beck 
for three thousand shares, or as large a portion 
thereof, as was offered at fifty-one. They 
anxiously awaited the outcome of this final as- 
sault. Their last one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars were involved. 


376 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


Beck opened the market as usual with “fifty- 
one bid” and Denton continued his tactics of 
offering blocks of five hundred until two thou- 
sand shares had been poured into the seeming- 
ly bottomless “pit.” Denton’s voice showed 
no agitation at his unavailing efforts to break 
the market. He dropped his offerings to one- 
hundred-share lots, but that only served to pro- 
long the agony. The stock was lapped up as 
fast as it was offered. After the exchange 
closed a rumor was circulated by means of the 
broad tape ticker that the government was 
threatening to reject several hundred thou- 
sand dollars worth of structural iron which the 
Consolidated Iron Company had furnished for 
public buildings. This was promptly denied 
from Washington. Then a directors’ meeting 
was called, and it was semi-officially announced 
that all of the mills of the company would be 
closed, pending the adjustment of certain local 
labor disputes. 

“That is rank manipulation,” said Mr. Beck, 
“and they will hardly dare to do it. This fight 
is a thing of a few days, and they will not 
wreck their business for years to come just to 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 377 


win it. But you may be able to get some 
cheaper stock to-morrow.” 

“I hope not,” muttered Robert. 

“Say,” said Jack, “Denton is secretary of 
Consolidated Iron, ain’t hef” 

“Yes, what of it?” queried Beck. 

“I reckon the president signs stock by the 
ream and Denton countersigns it as fast as he 
hands it out. Gosh! if his writin’-arm don’t 
give out, we’re bettin’ money against Carter’s 
Ink. I remember oncet that a sharper out in 
Denver sold more stock than the company had, 
and broke the broker what was tryin’ to get 
control. Do you reckon Denton is issuin’ 
Spencerian Unlimited?” and Jack, looked anxi- 
ously at Beck. 

“That could not be done in Chicago. All of 
the stock must be registered and the registrar 
is a trust company of unquestionable integ- 
rity,” said the broker. 

“Good enough; they’re registerin’ stock now 
in Denver since that Goldstone over-issue, but 
I thought maybe you wasn’t on to it in Chi- 
cago.” 

“Whose stock have we been buying?” asked 
Robert. 


378 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


“It has all been sold through Denton, but 
the last two thousand shares have been in the 
name of Hilliard,” replied Mr. Beck. 

“We will see you in the morning before the 
exchange opens. Come on. Jack, I want a lit- 
tle air,” and the two partners left the office 
together. 

“Jack, he is selling Hilliard out,” said Rob- 
ert, when they reached the street. 

“You don’t reckon he figgers that he owns 
the stock and the gal, too, do you?” 

“He may have thrown it over to lighten ship 
in the hope of picking it up again after he 
breaks us,” said Robert. 

“I reckon you have guessed it, old man, an’ 
it looks mighty near like he was goin’ to take 
the count on us. We put all our chips into 
that last pot. Bob, an’ they don’t play table- 
stakes in this game. Of course, we ain’t broke. 
We’ve got eight thousand shares of iron be- 
tween us an’ the poorhouse, an’ while we can’t 
build no universities, we kin live on it by only 
keepin’ one gal an’ havin’ the wash done out,” 
said Jack, seeking to cheer-up his despondent 
comrade. 

“Pshaw, Jack! That is not what is worry- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 379 


ing me. I didn’t buy this stock for the income. 
I bought it to down Denton. Ordinary meth- 
ods have failed. I now mean to throw every- 
thing into the scale, borrow every dollar I can 
on my half of the stock, and continue the fight. 
But you must keep out, ’ ’ said Robert. 

“I hev a picter of myself sittin’ on the 
fence an’ yellin’ ‘sic ’em’ at you two fellers 
fightin’. kfy dough goes into the pan with 
yours. Don’t ye worry about my income, 
neither. I kin go up in a balloon an’ fall out 
anywhere an’ make a livin’. Katie an’ the 
kids ’ud shake me if I shuck you now, ’ ’ and the 
old man’s manner showed Robert the futility 
of further argument. 

Robert arose early on the following morn- 
ing, after a sleepless night. It would have 
helped his repose had he known that Denton 
was pacing the floor also. 

“Jack, I am convinced that the other side is 
about all in. He never would have let go of 
Hilliard’s stock except as a last resort. 'If I 
can only get in one more blow, I think I can 
finish him,” said Robert at breakfast. 

“An’ if he comes back, it’s us bangin’ over 
the ropes, I s’pose. But he won’t come back. 


380 BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 


Bob. He ain’t got a good punch in him. Hil- 
liard’s stock was artyflshle stimylants, an’ he 
can’t keep up long on that. His nateral 
strength is gone,” said Jack. 

‘ ‘ I will raise all the money I can on my stock 
as soon as the hanks open,” said Eobert. 

“Ef you don’t put mine in, too,” said Jack, 
“blamed ef I don’t olfer it at forty-eight and 
take the pins out from under you an’ Denton 
both. Ye ain’t got chips enough. We’ll stand 
or fall together like we’ve always done.” 

“God bless you, old man, but you have a 
family dependent on you,” remonstrated Eob- 
ert. 

“Jest fergit the family. Bob. They ain’t 
ben rich long enough to git the habit, an’ 
wouldn’t live in the same house with a quit- 
ter.” 

“But we may be sold out.” 

“Look here. Bob. I’ve got real sportin’ 
blood in my veins. I ain’t ben in a game sence 
ye knew me, but oncet I put my last dollar in a 
jackpot at Leadville, borrowed five of the 
banker, drew two cards to a flush, bob-tailed at 
both ends an’ filled it. Thet don’t happen 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 381 


often, but the mem’ry of it has spoiled all my 
caution ever since.” 

Robert seized the rough hand of his old 
friend in a firm grasp and his eyes grew moist 
as he remembered how, years before, that same 
hand had drawn him out of darkness into the 
light and warmth of a home. 

They went to Beck & Company’s office quite 
early, but found their alert broker awaiting 
them. 

“Gentlemen,” said he, “a broker friend of 
mine told me last evening that Denton is try- 
ing to borrow stock from his friends for a few 
days. That indicates that he is on his last 
legs. ’ ’ 

“Well, Mr. Beck,” said Hudson, “it’s up to 
you whether we kin run our cross-cut to the 
vein or not. We’ve blowed in most of our 
real money, but we’ve got plenty of sand yet 
and some good collateral. We hev got some 
mighty good reasons, both personal an’ pecu- 
niary, fer wantin’ to keep the props under our 
workin’s a while longer. Kin ye git us a loan 
on it?” 

“I can loan you enough on what collateral 
you have to enable you to buy the entire capi- 


382 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


tal-stoek of the concern aronnd fifty-one if you 
want it. It will mean a pretty good lot of py- 
ramid work to do it, and it may clean you out, 
but it can be done.” 

“Hooray, Bob, wbat do ye think of that?” 
yelled Jack, as be slapped Mr. Beck on the 
back. “I guess ef we git the whole deck, be 
can’t deal off the bottom, eb?” 

“This closing-down may bring out a little 
more stock. You bad better instruct me as to 
your limit.” 

“Our limit!” shouted Hudson, “is fifty-one 
f er the entire capital stock ! ’ ’ 

“Use my stock as collateral first,” said Rob- 
ert. 

“Not on yer life,” protested Hudson. Be- 
sides, ye hain’t got no stock. This whole deal 
is in the name of J. Hudson an’ remains that 
way ontil the coroner is called on one corpse 
or the other. We started together, an’ we’ll 
finish together, an’, if the ironworks pinches 
out, we’ll paper the Hudson shack with the 
stock. ’ ’ 

“All right, gentlemen. The market will 
close higher to-day. When I see that it is 
getting away from Denton I will give you the 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 383 


wink and will then raise our bid a point every 
time you hold up your finger.” 

Robert and Hudson were at the exchange 
when the call was announced of Consolidated 
Iron. 

“Fifty-one bid.” 

“Two thousand shares otfered,” yelled Den- 
ton. 

“Taken,” calmly said Beck, as he made an 
entry in his book. Denton waited to see the 
effect of his blow. He was not kept in sus- 
pense long. 

“Fifty-one bid,” again shouted Beck, and 
once more Denton yelled, ‘ ‘ Two thousand 
shares otfered.” 

He realized now that almost half of the stock 
was pledged to the enemy. He was not fight- 
ing for victory merely, but for his financial 
existence, yet so magnificent was his nerve that 
his manner was unchanged as Beck again said: 

‘ ‘ Taken. ’ ’ 

“Fifty-one bid.” 

“Three thousand shares,” called Denton, as 
if anxious to sell. 

“Taken,” said Beck, and as calmly as an 


384 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


automaton he made a memorandum, and smil- 
ingly said: 

“Fifty-one bid.” 

This time there was no response. 

Denton had sold fifteen thousand of the com- 
pany’s twenty-five thousand shares. His deals 
represented every share of stock that he owned, 
controlled, or could borrow, and really im- 
pinged a little beyond that safe borderland. 
He had hoped, by hurling it at Beck in large 
quantities, to drive him and his unknown back- 
ers to cover. He knew he was all in, and he 
knew that the street knew it. 

“Fifty-one bid,” sung out Beck, and looked 
toward Hudson and nodded. 

Jack raised a finger. 

“Fifty-two” brought no offers. Steadily he 
climbed one point at a time while the brokers, 
ever loyal to a winner, raised a cheer. Denton 
stood there with dry lips and set jaw, praying 
for the clock to strike two. Before it did so. 
Consolidated Iron was worth seventy and none 
was offered. 

An hour later Hudson walked into Denton’s 
office, whistling an old tune. The broker sat 
at his desk and his face flushed as he recog- 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 385 

nized the man to whom Beck had looked for 
orders. 

“Well, partner, I reckon I increased the 
value of yer stock a little to-day,” Hudson re- 
marked, as he sat down by Denton’s desk. 

“Look here, old man, I don’t know why you 
jumped into this game, but you did, and you 
have won the first move. But if you came in 
here to crow over me, by God, I’ll throw you 
out. I cannot stand any more agitation to- 
day.” 

“Jest retain your garments, young feller. I 
didn’t come in here lookin’ fer a fight, an’ if ye 
try to start one. I’ll take ye across my knee 
an’ holler fer help.” 

Then observing Denton’s hollow eyes, a sym- 
pathetic tone came into his voice. 

“Sit down, partner, I came to offer terms 
for an honorable surrender.” 

“What do you mean?” asked Denton. “I 
am all in so far as Consolidated Iron is con- 
cerned. What else have I to surrender?” 

“Ye’ve got a sort o’ fust mortgage on a gal 
that a fren’ o’ mine is interested in. Ef you 
will cancel that claim, an’ fix it so as her old 
man’ll break even on the deal. I’ll pull out o’ 


386 BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 


the iron business an’ put you in statoo quo, as 
the lawyers say.” 

^‘The deuce you will. You are sure you are 
not after her yourself?” asked Denton. 

‘^Stop yer foolin’, partner. I’ve got one 
wife now an’ as I’ve no idee of moving to Pitts- 
burg, I’ll stick to the Colorado limit.” 

^‘AVell, you are a queer sort of customer, I 
must say.” 

^‘Yes, but jest leave me out of it an’ git down 
to bizness. Ye hain’t no claim on the gal now 
that ye’ve rocked the boat so derned hard that 
ye ’ve spilled yerself out alongside her dad. She 
ain’t a gal that ye’d pick out fer a trip through 
bankruptcy. I don’t know how deep yer feel- 
in’s fer her are, but I’m sure ye love her too 
much to want to make her a poor man’s wife. 
It’s up to you to choose between bein’ a poor 
husband or a rich bachelor. Nominate yer 
job.” 

Your idea appeals to me, but I still don’t see 
why you are willing to surrender over a quar- 
ter of a million dollars in exchange for a young 
lady, particularly when you say that the young 
lady is not for you,” said the puzzled broker. 

^^It might sound high in this market, but 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 387 


compared to the gal’s value in certain quar- 
ters, I’m ashamed to offer so little. Besides, 
I’ve got all that Katie and the kids will ever 
need, an’ I figure that all ye carry beyond yer 
needs in this world is cargo, an’ blamed heavy 
cargo at that.” 

“I wish more wealthy men felt that way, and 
would move to Chicago. What sort of release 
do you want? I have no claim on the young 
lady beyond her promise,” said Denton. 

“Ye couldn’t have anything else that’d hold 
her half so tight. ’Tain’t something ye can 
quit-claim in writin’ ’zackly. I reckon ye’d 
better go tell her it’s all off. Ye know how to 
do it, an’ if ye don’t I kinder reckon she’ll help 
you ef ye get stuck.” 

“What reason can I give her for my sudden 
change of heart?” said the half-desperate, half- 
amused jmung man. 

“I tell ye not to worry. She won’t be finicky 
about yer reasons. Ef ye throw open a pas- 
ture gate to a young colt, it ain’t goin’ to wait 
fer ye to explain why. It’s goin’ to bolt 
through the gate an’ rejoice in its freedom.” 

“I suppose I might tell her that a man who 
could not handle a stock-deal against a Colo- 


388 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


rado miner is hardly capable of supporting a 
wife,” mused Denton. 

“Don’t fret over the stock-deal, young fel- 
ler. You city chaps play this game against 
each other so much that you sorter overesti- 
mate the brains ye’re puttin’ into it. Any fel- 
ler with money an’ nerve kin drop in on ye at 
any time an’ break the bank. Wall street is 
as bad, only easier. They only know one game 
down thar, an’ that’s simpler than poker. When 
they start somethin’ big, that needs real busi- 
ness principles, do they ever pick out a leadin’ 
operator to head it? Jest as likely to take Big 
Dan, the dealer, to build a tunnel through the 
Rockies. Thar! I feel better with that out 
o’ my shaft an’ lay in’ on the dump. Coin’ 
back to the gal, you go to her house to-night 
early, tell her it’s all off, an’ leave the rest to 
me. I’ll push matrimonial stock up faster ’n 
I did Consolidated Iron. To-morrow you pay 
the old man seventy fer his holdings. Then 
you pay Beck’s brokerage an’ interest charges 
an’ I’ll turn over our stock to ye at cost.” 

“Does Miss Hilliard know anything about 
this deal?” asked Denton. 

“No, an’ I ain’t skeered of ye tellin’ her.” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 389 


“It seems an unmanly thing to do, and yet 
if she is as anxious to be released as you seem 
to think, it is probably for the best. I cannot 
marry her without a dollar, and unless I close 
with you, both her father and I will be impov- 
erished. I will do it. I will call on her early 
this evening and offer to release her. How 
will you know that I have kept my word?” 
asked Denton. 

“Ef my plans carry right. I’ll have shore 
evidence afore ye’ve been out of the house an 
hour,” said the miner, with a twinkle in his 
eye. 


390 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


CHAPTER XXIII 

PAID IN FULL 

Years before, Carlton stood between the 
plow-handles and helplessly clenched his fists 
while he listened to Mr. Hilliard’s abuse. The 
words uttered by the angry father had burned 
deeply into Robert’s memory. 

Conditions were now changed. In fact, they 
might have been reversed had it not been for 
his and Hudson’s interposition. Robert could 
not help wondering what sort of a reception he 
would be given by Mr. Hilliard. 

All doubts were set aside when the genial 
host himself threw open the door and extended 
both hands. 

“Is it possible that this is Robert Carlton?” 
he exclaimed. “There is no need to ask how 
you are. You fairly radiate health and pros- 
perity. ’ ’ 

“Thank you, Mr. Hilliard. Let me intro- 
duce my friend, Mr. Hudson.” 

“Mr. Hudson, any friend of Mr. Carlton is 


BOB CARLTON, AMERICAN 391 


a -welcome guest at my house,” said Mr. Hil- 
liard, warmly shaking Jack’s hand. 

“Well, it’s mighty good of ye to talk that 
way. Ef my welcome is in proportion to Bob 
an’ my fren’ship, I reckon I’d better send fer 
my trunk,” and the old miner chuckled. 

“Robert, I owe you an apology for the in- 
justice I did you years ago, and I want to take 
this first opportunity for making it. I assure 
you that it has bothered me frequently since. 
Men are never too old to make mistakes, and I 
hope I will never be too old to acknowledge 
mine,” said Mr. Hilliard. 

“Your mistake was a natural and pardon- 
able one. Since it resulted in good fortune 
for me it was really a blessing in disguise,” 
rejoined Robert. 

“That is certainly a charitable way to put 
it. Be seated and I will call Aleen. Her 
mother has not been well for several days and 
begs to be excused,” and Mr. Hilliard left the 
room. 

In a few minutes Aleen appeared, clad in a 
simple white dress whose folds of soft, gauzy 
material enhanced her youthful charm. She 
walked straight to Robert, as though dra-wn by 


392 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


a magnet. Her fair, young face, which had 
been so sad when he last saw it, was lightened 
with the glow of love and hope. Aleen was 
thoroughly in touch with her father’s business 
affairs and read the financial page of the even- 
ing paper with more avidity than the social gos- 
sip. She knew that Consolidated Iron had 
closed at seventy, and she thought she knew 
why. Robert was tongue-tied, as usual, and 
his only response to her greeting was a warm 
pressure of the hand. 

“Why, Mr. Hudson!” she exclaimed, seeing 
the old prospector standing by the window. 
Jack came forward with the natural gallantry 
of one of nature’s noblemen and bowed as he 
took her hand. 

“When did you and Jack meet?” asked Rob- 
ert, looking from one to the other for an expla- 
nation. 

“We never met,” said Aleen, with the readi- 
ness of her sex, “but every one in Cripple 
Creek knows the story of Jack Hudson’s fight 
for his rights, and he was pointed out to me 
a dozen times on Bennett avenue,” answered 
Aleen, giving Hudson a warning look. 

“Yes, I recollect ye, miss. Gals like ye 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 393 


ain’t real plenty anywhar, an’ I ain’t too old 
yet to hev some curiosity about ’em when they 
go by. Besides, I’ve heern Bob mention ye, 
occasionally,” he concluded, with a grin. 

A ring at the door-bell interrupted the con- 
versation, and a servant brought in the card of 
Mr. George Denton. 

“Show him up,” said Aleen. 

Jack chuckled, “What, agin?” but no one 
heard him. 

Aleen was displeased by the addition to her 
company, but managed to introduce him to the 
two friends without betraying her annoyance. 
She did not notice the twinkle in Hudson’s eye, 
or the scowl on Denton’s visage, as the two 
men shook hands. Denton did not dream that 
the tall, manly individual who was introduced 
as Mr. Carlton, was the same person whom he 
had tried to ridicule in conversation with 
Aleen, years before. Of course he was igno- 
rant of Eobert’s connection with his downfall 
on the exchange, and supposed him a chance 
caller at Mr. Hilliard’s hospitable home. 

The broker was not inclined to prolong his 
own agony, so he asked Aleen if he might have 
a few minutes’ private conversation with her. 


394 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


She was clearly surprised by the request, but 
excused herself from the other two guests and 
conducted him to the library. 

“I reckon here’s whar another claim-jumper 
lays down. This one reely had a better excuse 
fer pre-emptyin’ than Zeb Hart did, Bob, fer I 
do think ye was a little shy on yer preliminary 
work on the ‘Aleen.’ Say, by gracious, didn’t 
she look purty in that bib-apron?” said Jack, 
reminiscently, thinking of her nurse’s garb. 

“What bib-apron, Jack?” laughed Robert. 
“That was not a bib-apron, old man. That 
was a princess-gown.” 

“Was it?” said Hudson, recovering himself. 
“That jest shows how much I know about 
women’s togs.” 

As Hudson had foreseen, Denton made short 
work of cancelling his engagement, and Aleen 
was merciful to the embarassed man and too 
overjoyed at her release to otfer any objec- 
tions. 

Denton asked to be shown out of the house 
without re-entering the parlor. 

Hudson smiled when Aleen returned alone, 
and he knew from the red in her cheeks and the 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 395 


glint in her eyes that she was a free girl again 
and just panting for a new set of chains. 

“What brought you to Chicago?” she said, 
plunging at once into conversation. 

“Oh, Bob had some business here an’ I come 
along to pull him from in front of the keers.” 

Aleen smiled at Jack’s pleasantry, while 
Eobert seemed for once rather impatient of his 
old chum’s society. 

“I reckon I’ll look fer yer Pa an’ hev a 
smoke out on the front porch. This ain’t no 
place fer a non-union man,” and the old man 
smiled as he walked out. 

Eobert led Aleen to the sofa and sat down by 
her side. He took her hand in both of his and 
for a few seconds was content to simply sit 
and look at her fair, young loveliness. His de- 
liberations made Aleen ’s heart beat loudly. 

“Aleen, are you still engaged to that man?” 
he finally asked. 

“Your question is objected to as leading, and 
I refuse to answer,” she said, banteringly. 

“The objection is overruled. The witness 
may answer,” said Eobert, in the same spirit. 

“No, Bob, he voluntarily released me this 


396 BOB CABLTON, AMERICAN 


evening without assigning any reason for his 
action,” she replied. 

“Aleen, I wonder if such great beauty as 
you possess is an unmixed blessing. You must 
necessarily be the despair of hundreds of men 
and can belong to but one,” said the enrap- 
tured, but deliberate swain. 

A girl less well acquainted with Robert’s 
obstinate conscientiousness, or less in love with 
his sterling honesty, would have been tempted 
to doubt the sincerity of a man who could thus 
philosophize over the deprivation of mankind 
in general while he sat beside such an inviting 
picture of loveliness. But to Aleen, the chief- 
est charm about Robert was his absolute subor- 
dination of all desire to his sense of duty. He 
would not have consented to the permanent 
wrecking of his rival to gain her hand. His 
test of Denton proved what Robert had al- 
ways suspected, namely, that Denton’s love 
was two-thirds pride and one-third selfishness. 

Aleen waited for him to speak again. He 
sat as one who has pursued a dream until his 
senses refused to accept the reality when placed 
before him. A gentle sigh aroused him. 

“Tell me, dearest, did you go to Cripple 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 397 


Creek because I was there?” be asked, still 
toying with her hand. 

“Yes, Bob,” and her voice was a blend of 
whisper and sigh. 

“And you went after Hudson when I was in 
jail and brought him back?” 

“I went after him. Bob, but he came back 
of his own accord. Nothing could have kept 
him away from Colorado Springs after he 
learned the facts,” she said. 

“Is it possible that you love me, Aleen?” he 
questioned. 

“Oh, you dear, big, stupid. I’ve been throw- 
ing myself at your head for years and you 
could not see it. Even now, I was afraid you 
might — take — a — continuance, or do something 
else horrid,” and she laid her head on his 
shoulder, half -laughing and half -crying. 

“Dearest, you know it has been the labor and 
prayer of my life to be worthy of you, and I 
still feel the great inequality between us. I 
believe, though, that every day in your presence 
will make me better and stronger,” said the 
happy man. 

“You foolish old boy. You never knew how 
to lie, so I will try to believe that you think you 


398 BOB CAELTON, AMERICAN 


are telling the truth, but the real truth is that 
you are the g-r-a-n-d — ” but the awakened 
Robert stooped over and stopped her lips with 
a kiss. 

“And now, sweetheart,” he said, “why not 
call in your father, ask his consent, get married 
as quickly as possible and go back to our moun- 
tains,” he said. 

“Well, you certainly move rapidly enough 
when you get started,” she gasped. “But I 
see no reason for delaying matters. Our love 
is not a sudden growth, but has been tested 
by want, absence and long years of waiting.” 

They heard the murmur of voices on the 
porch. Aleen raised the window. 

“Father,” she called. 

“Jack,” said Robert. 

The two men tossed their cigars over the 
railing and came in. 

“What do you suppose we have been talk- 
ing about?” she asked, timidly. 

“I reckon about the same thing as has ben 
the topic with yer Pa an’ me,” broke in Hud- 
son, “an’ he gives his consent.” 

“But,” said Robert, “weren’t you a little 
presumptuous in assuming — ” 


BOB CAELTON, AMEEICAN 399 


“I didn’t assume nothin’, Bob, at least, nuth- 
in’ based on yore waldn’ up an’ takin’ the 
initiative. But I allowed that Miss Smith — ” 

“Miss who?” asked Robert. 

Aleen took a bonbon from a dish on the table 
and slipped it under her tongue. Turning to 
Hudson she lisped: 

“Mr. Hudson, you promised not to tell.” 

The wide-eyed Bob reached out his arms and 
said: 

“Is that another debt I owe you, darling? 
My life will be too short to pay them all.” 


Composition, Presswork and Binding by 
L. H. JENKINS 
Kiclimoiid, Virginia 




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